ABSTRACT
Growth factors and cytokines control cell growth, proliferation and differentiation via a network of inter- and intracellular signalling pathways, and are involved in skin self-renewing and wound healing. In recent years, topical and injectable growth factors and cytokines have emerged as an intriguing therapeutic modality that can be harnessed for aesthetic purposes. However, very little data are available on their long-term safety and tolerability. In this report, we describe two cases of patients, who developed intramuscular lipoma of the chin following topical injection with a mixture of basic fibroblast growth factor as the main ingredients for chin augmentation. Biopsies in the two cases were performed at our department, and revealed intramuscular lipoma. Our report indicates that the topical injection of growth factors can lead to tumorigenesis, so health care providers need to be aware of its potential consequences.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Nature and Science Foundation, P.R. China (Nos. 81272100 and 81372065), the major project of Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau (Nos. 201300000091 and 201508020253), and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong, P.R. China (No. S2013010015264).
Conflict of interests
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.