University of Queensland researchers have discovered that immunotherapy, when used to treat people with advanced cancers, also helps reduce sunspots and skin cancers by at least 65%. 

Over 12 months, researchers monitored 23 patients receiving immunotherapy for unrelated cancers and found the treatment also targeted cancerous and precancerous sunspots of the skin – causing some to disappear completely. 

Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani, from UQ’s Frazer Institute, said they monitored patients’ actinic keratoses – precancerous lesions commonly known as sunspots, and keratinocyte carcinomas – a non-melanoma skin cancer and the most common type of skin cancer. 

The number of skin lesions on patient’s forearms were counted before the immunotherapy started, and then again at three, six and 12-month intervals. 

The researchers found a reduction in the number of sunspots in 80% of patients by three months, and in all patients by 12 months. On average there was a 65% reduction in sunspots, and in one patient they saw all the precancerous lesions completely disappear. 

The patients enrolled in the pilot study were receiving intravenous immunotherapy for advanced cancers including melanoma, lung cancer, tonsillar and renal cell carcinoma. 

“We suspected that immunotherapy could have an impact on these skin cancers, as we know immunotherapy stimulates the immune system, but this is the first time we’ve been able to quantify the impact and show this works in a clinical setting,” Professor Khosrotehrani said. 

“This could pave the way for future clinical trials and explore other strategies to help people who are at an extreme risk of developing skin cancers, especially when other treatment or preventative options aren’t available.” 

Lead author, Dr Charlotte Cox added: “Current therapies don’t stop new skin cancers developing on sun-damaged skin, but this research shows there might be other ways to prevent it occurring.” 

Read about the research in JAMA Dermatology. 

Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, DDW