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Project Description

Please note that we are a research service provider, not a pharmacy or clinic, so we are unable to see patients and do not offer diagnostic and treatment services for individuals.

Keratoacanthoma (KA)

Keratoacanthoma (KA) refers to a malignant lesion, usually present on the sun-exposed portions of the body such as the face, arms, eyes and legs, that develops and matures within a short period. Protheragen's expertise spans from early drug discovery to the development of targeted therapies, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to provide clients with customized Keratoacanthoma therapy development solutions.

Introduction to Keratoacanthoma (KA)

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is an elusive characteristic skin tumor with features such as rapid growth, spontaneous regression, and a tendency to grow on sun-damaged skin. Keratoacanthoma was first described in the late 19th century and has remained a controversial subject amongst dermatologists and pathologists in regards to its clinical behavior and complicated histological features. KA is similar to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) but differs in its natural history and is distinguished by its benign characteristics. Thorough comprehension of KA is essential in devising accurate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

The histopathologic features of KAs are phase-dependent.

Fig.1 Histopathologic features of Keratoacanthoma. (Tisack A., et al., 2021)

Diagnostic Method for Keratoacanthoma

Immunohistochemical Markers

Key differentiating markers between KA and cSCC have been studied, including some cytokines, cell adhesion molecules, and cell cycle and apoptosis regulators. For example, both p53 and Ki-67 demonstrated differential expression of hTERT in KA when compared to cSCC. Unfortunately, there is not one single differentiative marker that has shown reliability.

Molecular and Genetic Analysis

Distinct genetic differences between KA and cSCC were evidenced through comparative genomic hybridisation and transcriptomic studies. The KA variant is characteristically associated with lower levels of chromosomal abnormalities and mutations in TP53 and NOTCH1. These differences at the molecular level point to the possibility of genetic profiling for diagnostic purposes.

Therapeutics Development for Keratoacanthoma

Topical and Intralesional Therapies
Surgical excision is now being replaced by topical and intralesional therapies, which have proven to be quite effective. During the therapeutics of KA, some effective agents, such as 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, and imiquimod, were used. Chemotherapy, which is carried out through the lesion, can minimize the tumor size for better surgical removal and cosmetic results.

Systemic Therapies
Systemic retinoids such as acitretin are frequently utilized, sometimes in conjunction with other forms of therapeutics, for multiple KAs. More recent attempts at therapeutics involving targeted agents are being made, including the use of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors like erlotinib, which have been effective in refractory cases.

Our Services

Protheragen's comprehensive development services cover the full spectrum of keratoacanthoma diagnostics and therapeutics. From molecular diagnostics to targeted therapies, we provide end-to-end solutions to support the development of innovative approaches.

Diagnostics Development

Karyotype Analysis Service
Omics Analysis Service
Biomarker Development Service
Artificial Intelligence Service
Customized Diagnostics Development

Therapeutic Development

Small Molecule Drug
Cell Therapy
Gene Therapy
Therapeutic Antibody
Therapeutic Peptide
Therapeutic Protein
Customized Therapy Development

Disease Models

DMBA-Induced Keratoacanthoma Models
Chemical Carcinogenesis Models
Spontaneous Keratoacanthoma Models
Genetic Lineage Tracing Models

Protheragen's preclinical research services are designed to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics. We offer a suite of services, including in vitro and in vivo studies, to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and toxicology of novel agents. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

References

Tisack, Aaron, et al. "A clinical and biological review of keratoacanthoma." British journal of dermatology 185.3 (2021): 487-498.
Zito, Patrick M., and Richard Scharf. "Keratoacanthoma." (2018).