Emerging noninvasive treatments of nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy worldwide, and the incidence continues to increase. Originally, treatment options for NMSCs largely relied on destructive and surgical methods. Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) commonly are treated with cryosurgery, electrodesiccation and curettage, or more definitive surgical options. Over time, topical agents such as 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, ingenol mebutate, and various forms of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) were included for superficial lesions as well as field treatment. The development of oral hedgehog (Hh) inhibitors such as vismodegib offered a promising alternative to patients with advanced disease. Each treatment has its own specific indications and side effects, thus there is always room for novel therapeutic approaches. We review new and potential treatments for NMSCs since 2018 including topical sonidegib, cemiplimab, taladegib, posaconazole, radiation therapy (RT), combination RT with vismodegib, PDT, and laser therapies.

Patient-driven management using same-day noninvasive diagnosis and complete laser treatment of basal cell carcinomas: a pilot study.

The increasing incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) poses a serious public health concern. Standard care for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) requires patients to attend multiple visits for diagnosis and treatment. This pilot study describes a model of care that aims to alleviate some of the demand placed both on the specialty and on patients by utilizing a novel same-day approach to BCC management with noninvasive diagnosis, same-day treatment, and noninvasive imaging follow-up. This study evaluates the efficacy of the 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for treating BCC while leveraging noninvasive imaging technology for diagnosis and confirmation of clearance.