Abstract 1: Topical Tacrolimus for the Treatment of Lymphedema

PURPOSE: Lymphedema is a common, life-long complication of cancer treatment that currently has no cure. Patients with lymphedema have decreased quality of life and suffer recurrent infections, while current treatments are merely palliative and designed to prevent disease progression. Accumulating evidence indicates that T cells play a key role in the pathology of lymphedema by inhibiting lymphangiogenesis and promoting tissue fibrosis. Because the pathophysiology of lymphedema involves primarily the skin and subcutaneous tissues, it may be possible to target T cells locally using topical medications such as tacrolimus without inducing systemic immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was therefore to study the efficacy of topical tacrolimus for prevention and treatment of lymphedema using preclinical mouse models.