New Cream May Halt Common Skin Cancer Growth

Topical treatment activates skin's immune defenses to suppress tumor growth in preclinical models.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:58am

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Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a topical cream that activates the skin's immune defenses and suppresses tumor growth in preclinical models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), one of the most common cancers. The cream works by blocking LSD1, an enzyme that normally suppresses immune-activating pathways in the skin. The findings suggest the therapy could reduce the need for repeated surgeries and lower the number of lesions that progress to invasive cancer.

Why it matters

cSCC is one of the most common cancers, with about a million Americans diagnosed each year, and incidence continues to rise. While most cases are treatable with surgery, up to 5% of tumors metastasize, leading to thousands of deaths annually. Many older or immunocompromised patients develop dozens of precancerous lesions, making repeated procedures burdensome. A topical approach that activates anti-tumor immune responses locally could reduce the need for invasive treatments and help prevent progression to invasive cancer.

The details

The Penn researchers formulated a low-dose topical inhibitor of LSD1, an enzyme that normally acts as a "brake" on certain immune-activating pathways in epidermal cells. By "lifting the brake," the cream prompted skin cells to signal for immune help, and those cells played a key role in slowing down tumor growth. Blocking retinoic acid signaling reversed many of the skin-level changes induced by the cream, and destroying CD4+ T cells eliminated its tumor suppression, suggesting the therapy works by priming communication between skin cells and the immune system.

  • The study was published on March 13, 2026.

The players

Brian C. Capell

An assistant professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and the senior author of the study.

Nina Kuprasertkul

The first author of the study.

University of Pennsylvania

The institution where the researchers who developed the topical cream are based.

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What they’re saying

“What's striking is that a simple topical cream can use the skin's own machinery to recruit and activate immune cells that attack tumors.”

— Brian C. Capell, Assistant Professor of Dermatology (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers are carrying out more studies to refine the formulation this coming year, and they hope to begin a phase 1 clinical trial in the next 1-2 years.

The takeaway

This topical cream that activates the skin's immune defenses could provide a new treatment option for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common cancers, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures and preventing progression to advanced disease.