Could a common pain cream help stop skin cancer before it starts?
NCT ID NCT02636569
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a daily application of diclofenac gel, a common anti-inflammatory drug, can reverse certain biomarkers in the skin that are linked to non-melanoma skin cancer. Twenty-four adults at risk for skin cancer applied the gel for 30 days, and researchers took small skin samples to measure changes. The goal was to find the best dose for reducing these early warning signs, potentially leading to a simple way to prevent skin cancer.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- topical diclofenac gel
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a simple daily cream that helps prevent non-melanoma skin cancers in high-risk people.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 24 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The cream is tested for biomarker changes, not directly for cancer prevention, and may not reduce actual cancer risk.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BASAL CELL CARCINOMA are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham Whitaker Clinic
Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can Pre-Surgery immunotherapy prime the immune system to fight head and neck cancer?
- Glowing cancer cells: a new way to see tumors during surgery?
- Botox before the knife: could a Pre-Surgery injection lead to Better-Looking scars?
- Laser rejuvenation may shield aging skin from cancer
- Could a lighter immunotherapy schedule keep advanced cancers in check?
- Immunotherapy before surgery may cut skin cancer recurrence