Skin Cancer

Sunil A. Reddy, MD gives his perspective on the article, Metastatic Basal Cell (BCC) Arising from a Primary Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma.

This study presents a case of a man, aged 56 years, found to have a 26-mm exophytic lesion on the vertex scalp identified to contain a distinct population of basal cell carcinoma as well as another population of spindled cells representing a poorly differentiated sarcomatous component.

A retrospective review identified that clinical practice patterns have changed from 2002 to 2020, with the use of immunotherapy increasing as chemotherapy and radiation therapy use has decreased for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Cemiplimab for patients with either metastatic or locally advanced basal cell carcinoma showed antitumor activity in a phase 2 trial.

Pembrolizumab has been granted an expanded indication by the FDA for locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

These data establish pembrolizumab as a promising treatment option for those with locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, according to Brett G.M. Hughes, MD.

First-line treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab showed a moderate improvement in overall survival and a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

The PD-1 inhibitor cemiplimab was granted approval in patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma previously treated with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor or for whom these therapies are not appropriate.

A study published in JAMA Dermatology found changes in diagnostics and awareness may, in part, account for initial increases in incidence rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.

Study investigators indicated that these results call for the need to revise skin cancer health policies to be able to handle the increasing burden of keratinocyte carcinoma management.

A study published in JAMA Dermatology determined that topical immunosuppressant medications used to treat adult patients with atopic dermatitis do not increase the risk of common forms of cancer despite warning labels on the packaging.

Cemiplimab demonstrated an objective response rate of 31% in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma who progress on or are intolerant to hedgehog inhibitors.

Data released from a phase 2b clinical trial showed statistically significant long-term survival for patients with stage III or IV melanoma at high-risk of recurrence.

The FDA approved pembrolizumab for patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma that is not curable by surgery or radiation.

Clinically important increases in melanoma risk in patients treated with biologic therapy for common inflammatory diseases cannot yet be ruled out based on current evidence.

The combination of tavo and pembrolizumab was associated with a higher than anticipated response rate in patients with advanced melanoma with low frequencies of checkpoint positive cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Researchers indicated that targeted approaches to improving time from diagnosis to definitive surgery for black patients are essential in reducing racial disparities in melanoma outcomes.

Cemiplimab showed clinically meaningful and durable responses in this group of patients for whom there are no currently approved treatments.

Interim data from cohort B of KEYNOTE-555, a phase I trial evaluating a 400 mg every 6-week dosing regimen of pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic melanoma, demonstrated a consistent benefit-risk profile.

Favorable toxicity profiles and antitumor activity seen in this phase II study of pembrolizumab supports further evaluation of the drug in this patient population.

A study showed that adolescents and young adults with certain types of cancers saw significant improvements in their 5-year mortality rates, while other cancer types saw little to no significant improvement among the same demographic group.

These findings highlight the need to raise public awareness of the importance of self-skin examination, and to encourage clinicians to have a lower threshold for undertaking skin examinations in bereaved individuals, according to the researchers.

In this study, the skin cancer rates were higher among gay and bisexual men, compared with heterosexual men, but lower among bisexual women than heterosexual women.

With February being National Cancer Prevention Month, here are the latest updates in cancer prevention.

A recent study determined circulating tumor cells were associated with melanoma relapse, suggesting that this form of liquid biopsy could help identify patients who would benefit from adjuvant therapy.

The recommendations defined when and how radiation therapy should be used to treat patients with basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Recommendations defined when and how radiation therapy should be used to treat patients with basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Why are geriatric patients less likely to get treated for their non-melanoma skin cancers? Researchers investigate and report. 

Researchers report on the best pembrolizumab protocol for advanced melanoma. 

The Global Burden of Disease 2017 study found non-melanoma skin cancer to be the biggest increase in incidence worldwide.