Neoadjuvant Imiquimod Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer

Imiquimod as a 5% cream is being used to treat several skin cancers, including malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and SCC. With respect to SCC treatment, it has been demonstrated that imiquimod stimulates tumor destruction by recruiting T cells (cells in the immune system) from blood and by inhibiting tonic anti-inflammatory signals within the tumor. The patient will be instructed to apply imiquimod cream, 7 nights a week for 4 weeks to the oral tumor at bedtime.