Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin medical therapy: Difference between revisions

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** Quick procedure and cost-effective
** Quick procedure and cost-effective
** Not indicated for large recurrent lesions, deeply invasive lesions, and other high risk SCC
** Not indicated for large recurrent lesions, deeply invasive lesions, and other high risk SCC
* [[Electrosurgery|'''Electrosurgery''']]
** Used for small lesions, well defined and located in non-critical areas of the body
** Cost-effective
** Gives favorable cosmetic results
** Low complication rate
** The procedure is performed by alternatively curetting away tumor and then electrodessicating the ulcer base with inclusion of a rim of normal surrounding skin.
** Cure rates of nearly 96% can be achieved with this treatment provide the lesion is small and well defined.
** This treatment should be avoided on the mid-face region.
** It is contraindicated in recurrent, large, poorly defined, and other high risk SCCs.


* '''Topical [[5-fluorouracil]] (5-FU)'''  
* '''Topical [[5-fluorouracil]] (5-FU)'''  
Line 70: Line 60:
** Cure rates of up to 85% were achieved in one study with this type of treatment. For recurrent disease, courses are repeated.  
** Cure rates of up to 85% were achieved in one study with this type of treatment. For recurrent disease, courses are repeated.  
** [[5-FU]] gives favorable cosmetic results, but is contraindicated in invasive lesions.
** [[5-FU]] gives favorable cosmetic results, but is contraindicated in invasive lesions.
* [[Photodynamic therapy|'''Photodynamic therapy''']]
** Is another form of medical therapy used for lesions on the face and scalp.
** The therapy is performed by applying a photosensitizing agent, such as topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to the growths.
** The agent is taken up by the abnormal cells, and the medicated areas are subsequently activated by a strong light.
** This treatment selectively destroys the abnormal cells of the squamous cell carcinoma while causing minimal damage to the surrounding normal tissue.
** It is especially effective in early, non-invasive lesions, and is not recommended in invasive lesions.
** It is performed in the physicians’ office and the patients must avoid sunlight for 48 hrs after the photosensitizing agent is applied on the lesions.
** This form of treatment is yet to be approved by the FDA.
* [[Imiquimod]]
** Is a topical immune response modifier approved by the FDA for the treatment of anogenital warts and [[actinic keratoses]] and has been used in the treatment of SCC in situ. It works by stimulating local cytokine production, cell-mediated immunity, and possibly promotes apoptosis. It is applied daily for 6 - 16 weeks. In case of failure with monotherapy it can be combined with 5-FU. It is not approved by FDA for treatment of SCC in situ.


* [[Radiation therapy|'''Radiation therapy''']]  
* [[Radiation therapy|'''Radiation therapy''']]  

Revision as of 15:43, 4 June 2019

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2], Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [3]

Overview

Medical Therapy

Once the diagnosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been established by skin biopsy and histopathologic examination, the assessment of the risk of locoregional recurrence and regional or distant metastasis is the most important step to determine the treatment approach.

Characteristics that impact the risk for recurrence and metastasis include:[1]

  • Location of tumor
  • Tumor depth ( > 2mm) and size
  • Immunosuppressed patients
  • Site of previous radiotherapy
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Rapidly growing tumor
  • Neurologic symptoms
  • Poorly differentiated tumor
  • Acantholytic (adenoid), adenosquamous, desmoplastic, or metaplastic (carcinosarcomatous) subtypes
  • Lymph node involvement

According to the 2018 NCCN guidelines and in order to determine the approach to treatment, low risk and high risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma can be categorized as follows:[1]

Low risk of cutaneous SCC High risk of cutaneous SCC
Well-defined, primary lesions <20 mm located on trunk or extremities (excluding pretibia, hands, feet, nail units, and ankles) Lesions ≥20 mm located on trunk or extremities (excluding pretibia, hands, feet, nail units, and ankles)
Well-defined, primary lesions <10 mm located on cheeks, forehead, scalp, neck, and pretibia Lesions ≥10 mm located on cheeks, forehead, scalp, neck, and pretibia
Primary tumor Lesions of any size located in the "mask area" (ie, central face, eyelids, eyebrows, periorbital, temple, nose, lips, chin, mandible, pre- and postauricular), genitalia, hands, and feet
Histopathologically well or moderately differentiated tumor, <2 mm in thickness, without perineural, lymphatic, or vascular invasion Histopathologically poorly differentiated tumor, ≥2 mm in thickness, with perineural, lymphatic, or vascular invasion

Medical care of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) includes cryosurgery, electrosurgery, radiation therapy and topical treatment for cutaneous lesions, and chemotherapy for systemic disease.

Chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, topical fluorouracil (FU), capecitabine, methotrexate, cetuximab, bleomycin, and doxorubicin, have been utilized in patients with locally advanced cSCC that cannot be adequately managed with surgical excision or radiation therapy or metastatic cSCC.

  • Cryotherapy[2]
    • Destroys malignant cells by freezing them and then allowing them to thaw.
    • Useful for small, well-defined, low-risk invasive SCCs, and for Bowen's disease
    • Liquid nitrogen is applied to the tumor and a surrounding rim of normal-appearing skin (usually ≥3 mm).
    • Tumor cell death is due to the formation of intracellular and extracellular ice crystals, hypertonicity, disruption of the phospholipid membrane, and vascular stasis.
    • Quick procedure and cost-effective
    • Not indicated for large recurrent lesions, deeply invasive lesions, and other high risk SCC
  • Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
    • Is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of actinic keratoses.
    • Although topical 5-FU is not approved for the treatment of SCC in situ, it is widely used for this indication when other treatment modalities are impractical and for patients who refuse surgical treatment.
    • It is especially valuable for situations in which postoperative healing is compromised, such as in lesions that involve the lower extremity in elderly patients or those with venous stasis disease.
    • Topical 5-FU is also useful to treat the widespread SCC in situ lesions that may occur in arsenical dermatitis or xeroderma pigmentosum (XP).[3]
    • Topical 5-FU is available in 0.5%, 1% and 5% concentrations.
      • 1% and 0.5% are used for actinic keratosis.
        • 5% cream is used twice daily for 4 - 8 weeks in the treatment of SCC in situ.
    • Cure rates of up to 85% were achieved in one study with this type of treatment. For recurrent disease, courses are repeated.
    • 5-FU gives favorable cosmetic results, but is contraindicated in invasive lesions.
  • Radiation therapy
    • In high-risk cSCC, radiation therapy is not routinely utilized as monotherapy given the higher rate of local recurrence (15 to 20 percent or greater) compared with surgery with or without postoperative radiation therapy.[4]
    • Is an excellent choice for the management of initial small well defined lesions, especially primary SCCs in older individuals and those who are not candidates for surgical procedures. This form of treatment is administered in a fractionated form requiring nearly 30 treatments.[5]
    • For low risk lesions the cure rate approaches nearly 90%. The main advantage of this kind of treatment is sparing of the surrounding normal healthy skin, thus providing superior cosmetic benefits. Radiotherapy is contraindicated in:[6]
      • Tumors located on the trunk, extremities, ear and nose.
      • Patients younger than 40-50 years.
      • Recurrent SCCs that have previously been irradiated.
      • Cancers with large and poorly defined lesions, and other high risk SCCs.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Skulsky SL, O'Sullivan B, McArdle O, Leader M, Roche M, Conlon PJ; et al. (2017). "Review of high-risk features of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and discrepancies between the American Joint Committee on Cancer and NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines In Oncology". Head Neck. 39 (3): 578–594. doi:10.1002/hed.24580. PMID 27882625.
  2. Holt PJ (1988). "Cryotherapy for skin cancer: results over a 5-year period using liquid nitrogen spray cryosurgery". Br J Dermatol. 119 (2): 231–40. PMID 3166941.
  3. Mackenzie-Wood A, Kossard S, de Launey J, Wilkinson B, Owens ML (2001). "Imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of Bowen's disease". J Am Acad Dermatol. 44 (3): 462–70. doi:10.1067/mjd.2001.111335. PMID 11209116.
  4. Miller SJ, Alam M, Andersen J, Berg D, Bichakjian CK, Bowen G; et al. (2010). "Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers". J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 8 (8): 836–64. PMID 20870631.
  5. Lovett RD, Perez CA, Shapiro SJ, Garcia DM (1990). "External irradiation of epithelial skin cancer". Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 19 (2): 235–42. PMID 2394605.
  6. Kwan W, Wilson D, Moravan V (2004). "Radiotherapy for locally advanced basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin". Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 60 (2): 406–11. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2004.03.006. PMID 15380573.


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