Attitudes among dermatologists regarding non-melanoma skin cancer treatment options

AbstractNon-melanoma skin cancers include basal and squamous cell carcinoma. These tumors have become an important health issue for their high incidence and for the morbidity, especially if untreated for a long period. Over the last 20  years, therapeutic approaches for these tumours have been improved and tailored. In this survey we provided data from one hundred and ten Italian dermatologists regarding knowledge and attitude towards different therapeutic approaches on non-melanoma skin cancers. In our study, we observed that su rgery and imiquimod 5% cream were the most used treatment by dermatologists for basal cell carcinoma, while, surgery was the most common treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, we observed some differences regarding the prescribed therapies in the different Italian geographical areas (i.e., Mohs’ surgery and electrochemotherapy were more frequently used in Northern compared to Central and Southern Italy whereas immunotherapy was more used in Southern compared to Northern and Central Italy) and even considering the year of specialization of the dermatologists (i.e., immu notherapy with cemiplimab was prescribed mainly by dermatologists with 10–19 years of specialization). However, for locally advanced and metastatic forms of basal and squamous cell carcinoma, Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors and anti- Programmed cell death protein antibody treatment, respectively, wer e used in line with the newest evolution of therapies regardi...
Source: Hormones and Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research