Key Points Chemotherapy regimens, non-specific immunostimulants and vaccines alone have failed to show any survival benefit in the adjuvant setting. High-dose interferon-α2b is the only approved drug shown to improve relapse-free and overall survival in large multi-institutional randomized controlled trials…
Key Points Radiation therapy is curative for >90% of primarily treated basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin; the cosmetic appearance years later is a function of the manner in which the treatment course is fractionated. Malignant melanomas are…
Key Points Strategies employed in skin cancer reconstruction balance the requirements of the resulting wound defect – location, dimension, functional properties and aesthetics – to achieve the goal of a well-healed durable reconstruction with minimal donor morbidity. Options for reconstruction…
Key Points The goal of regional lymph node surgery is to remove tumor that has spread to the nodes and thereby improve patient outcomes. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy has become the standard of care for the nodal…
Key Points Surgical excision is the cornerstone for the initial management of primary melanoma. The major focus of surgical excision for melanoma is to remove the primary tumor and any local disease. The initial treatment for melanoma should include excision…
Key Points Basal cell carcinomas only rarely disseminate widely. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin has a variable risk of distant metastasis up to 16%. Platinum-based combination therapy is used to treat both metastatic basal and squamous cell carcinoma; data…
Key Points Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) involves the extirpation of tumor and correct processing of tissue with frozen section histology to ensure that 100% of the margin is examined and has the advantage of sparing normal tissue. MMS has the…
Key Points Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common type of cancer and has multiple management options. Surgical excision remains an efficient, effective, and safe method for the treatment of these tumors, particularly with thorough perioperative planning. Excision has…
Key Points Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a selective non-invasive therapy for non-hyperkeratotic actinic keratoses, in-situ squamous cell carcinoma, and superficial and thin nodular basal cell carcinomas. PDT offers particular advantages for large and multiple lesions and those in sites where…
Key Points Interferons (IFNs) have antiproliferative, antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties that can be used to treat skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, Kaposi sarcoma (KS), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). An immune response modifier stimulates both innate…