5-fluorouracil + calcipotriene

5-fluorouracil + calcipotriene is an investigational combination therapy being evaluated for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, specifically on the lower extremities. The regimen consists of intralesional injections of 5-fluorouracil (5FU), a pyrimidine analog antimetabolite, paired with topical applications of calcipotriene, a synthetic vitamin D3 analog. 5-fluorouracil acts by inhibiting thymidylate synthase, thereby disrupting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis in rapidly dividing malignant cells. Calcipotriene is included to modulate cell differentiation and potentially stimulate a T-cell mediated anti-tumor immune response. This approach, led by Dr. Melissa Pugliano-Mauro at the University of Pittsburgh, aims to provide a non-surgical alternative to standard surgical resection for invasive SCC. The treatment is currently being studied in a Phase I clinical trial to assess safety, tolerability, and objective response rates prior to definitive surgical evaluation.

Other names

Intralesional 5-fluorouracil and topical calcipotrieneIntralesional5-fluorouracil and topical calcipotrieneIntralesional-5-fluorouracil and topical calcipotriene5-FU + calcipotrieneIntralesional 5FU and Calcipotriene in Lower Extremity SCCIntralesional5FU and Calcipotriene in Lower Extremity SCCIntralesional-5FU and Calcipotriene in Lower Extremity SCC