Title:  Method for treating pre-malignant basal and squamous cell lesions of the epithelium

United States Patent:  6,235,788

Appl. No.:  399322

A new use of the botanical substance Capsaicin entails application of Capsaicin to pre-malignant basal and squamous cell lesions of the epithelium. Advantageous treatment, including atrophication and de-coloration of such lesions is accomplished. The substance, which is applied topically, is employed in a potency, or concentration, of about 0.010% to 0.200% (w/w). Capsaicin in the same potency can also be employed in a base of aloe vera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain scale-like lesions of the skin (clinically termed heaped-up particles of the epithelium) have been identified as precursors of basal and squamous cell malignancies of the skin. The same comprise brown skin spots which are most common among older persons, particularly in Sunbelt areas of the country such as Florida, Texas, Arizona and California.

The within inventors have discovered, through observations of the action of their proprietary form of Capsaicin in the treatment of arthritis, that decoloration, atrophication and, in some cases, complete disappearance of such brown spots upon the skin is accomplished through the topical application of Capsaicin in potencies, or concentrations in a range of 0.010% to 0.200% (w/w), with an average potency, or concentrations of 0.035% (w/w).

EXAMPLE 1

Capsicum was initially tested upon persons having pre-malignant basal or squamous cell lesions at joints and other areas of the body subject to arthritis. Thereby, the inventors sought out, as an initial test group, older individuals in Florida, Arizona and California, having pre-malignant scaling of the skin in parts of the body, typically joints, in which one or more of the above-noted Capsaicin arthritis products would otherwise be indicated for use. In this test, the inventors discovered that pre-malignant cell lesions in the area of joints being so treated for arthritis would, over a period of days of treatment, became lighter in color, atrophy, and in many cases disappear completely.

EXAMPLE 2

After having completed the above test group, the inventors proceeded to use of Capsaicin upon persons not having any arthritis problems and to treat such persons upon parts of the body unrelated to joints. In particular, the inventors applied a roll-on stick form of Capsaicin to such areas as bald heads and arms of older persons where such premalignant cell lesions are common. In such testing, the same marked results were obtained as in the group of Example 1.

From such testing, It is believed that an appropriate range of concentration of Capsaicin is between 0.010% and 0.200% (w/w), with a preferred range being that of 0.025% to 0.099% (w/w).

EXAMPLE 3

A Caucasian male in Indian Harbor Beach, Florida, experimentally utilized Capsaicin, in said preferred range, in January 1997, for the treatment of pre-malignant lesions, and found a complete clearing thereof within a period of weeks, following daily usage thereof.

EXAMPLE 4

A Caucasian male in Downey, California, experimentally utilized Capsaicin, in said preferred range, October 1997, for the treatment of pre-malignant lesions, and found a complete clearing thereof within a period of weeks, following daily usage thereof.

EXAMPLE 5

A Caucasian female in West Covina, California experimentally utilized Capsaicin, in said preferred range, in July 1998, for the treatment of pre-malignant lesions, and found a complete clearing thereof within a period of weeks, following daily usage thereof.

As is well known in clinical dermatology, the best treatment for any type of basal or squamas cell carcinoma is to prevent it from becoming malignant in the first place. Since basal and squamous cell carcinomas represent one of the few forms of cancer which are readily observable, the same are ideal candidates for preventative treatment, and the present invention is therefore to be viewed as a contribution in the area of preventative medicine, in that Capsaicin can, without risk, be liberally applied to such pre-malignant lesions at their earliest appearance.

EXAMPLE 6

A Caucasian male in Concord, New Hampshire, experimentally utilized the above Capsaicin formulation, in a base of aloe vera, for the treatment of pre-malignant lesions, and found a complete clearing thereof within a period of weeks, following daily usage thereof.

EXAMPLE 7

A Caucasian male in Carbondale, Illinois, experimentally utilized the above Capsaicin formulation, in a base of aloe vera, for the treatment of pre-malignant lesions, and found a complete clearing thereof within a period of weeks, following daily usage thereof.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the claims appended herewith.

Claim 1 of 4 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating pre-malignant basal and squamous cell lesions of the epithelium comprising the step of:

applying an enhanced effective amount of Capsaicin in a concentration from about 0.010% to about 0.200% (w/w) in a base of aloe vera topically on an area of said lesion,

whereby advantageous treatment, including atrophication and de-coloration of such lesions, is thereby achieved.

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