A preliminary study of the local treatment of preneoplastic and malignant skin lesions using methyl jasmonate.

BACKGROUND

Jasmonates are plant stress hormones. These small hydrophobic compounds exhibit anti-cancer activities, in vitro and in vivo, against cancer cells of various histological origins. Moreover, they show a selective activity against transformed cells and affect drug-resistant cells as well.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of a powerful jasmonate derivative, that is methyl jasmonate.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Methyl jasmonate was applied topically on cancerous and pre-cancerous skin lesions from eight patients.

RESULTS

Methyl jasmonate did not cause any meaningful local or systemic side effects. Three patients exhibited positive responses. Two patients had complete recovery and one had a recurrence of the lesion three months post treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Methyl jasmonate is a potentially promising novel topical treatment for prcancerous and cancerous skin lesions. Methyl jasmonate should be evaluated in a larger series of patients.