First in Man Topical Treatment of Melanoma with Solasodine Glycosides in a Formulation Curaderm: A Case Report

Background: There is ample evidence to support the safety and efficacy of the topical anticancer cream Curaderm in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers. Curaderm contains the natural glycoalkaloid solamargine in the form of BEC, which has been established as a novel antineoplastic agent. BEC is the initials of the inventor of the described technology. It is known that BEC expresses anti-melanoma properties in cell culture and animals. Because of potential metastasis, clinical work with BEC on melanoma was stalled. However, recent studies show that BEC has anti-metastatic properties and this, together with currently better understanding of the mode of anti-cancer actions of BEC, has led to the treatment of a patient who refused to have surgery for her clinically diagnosed stage II melanoma. Treatment: A 67-year woman had a birthmark that developed into a clinically diagnosed stage II melanoma and was treated with topical application of Curaderm twice daily for 7 weeks. Results: The pattern of response of the melanoma to Curaderm therapy was similar to that observed when basal cell carcinoma is treated with Curaderm. The melanoma responded rapidly to the treatment and in 7 weeks the lesion was removed with no demonstrable side effects. The cosmetic end result was very acceptable. Conclusion: The clinical resolution of the melanoma with Curaderm pharmacotherapy conforms to the cell culture and animal observations that solasodine rhamnosides, and thus Curaderm, is very specific and efficacious for the first in man treatment of melanoma, creating the possibility of a simple treatment for melanoma. Further investigations with controlled clinical trials are warranted.