Journal
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
Volume 12, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.846278
Keywords
neurotropic cutaneous malignancies; non-melanoma skin cancer; cutaneous oncology; cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; basal cell carcinoma; perineural invasion; immunotherapy; immune checkpoint inhibitors
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For patients with neuropathic symptoms from cutaneous neurotropic carcinomas of the head and neck, an expanded diagnostic evaluation is necessary to ensure timely and appropriate management based on individual priorities, comorbidities, and prognosis. Additionally, when utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment modality, the potential for immune-related adverse events should be taken into consideration.
BackgroundThe recent addition of immunotherapy as a treatment modality to surgery and radiation has vastly improved disease control for patients with keratinocyte-derived carcinomas (KCs) that are incurable with local therapies alone. With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPis) in non-melanoma skin cancers comes diagnostic and therapeutic challenges when considering treatment strategies for patients presenting with clinical perineural invasion (cPNI) of locally advanced KC of the head and neck. ObjectivesWe report four cases that convey the diagnostic and therapeutic complexity of managing patients with neuropathic symptoms from cutaneous neurotropic carcinomas of the head and neck. We also discuss an updated review regarding immunotherapies and perineural invasion within KC management. ConclusionPatients presenting with symptoms suspicious for cPNI warrant an expanded diagnostic evaluation to correlate neurological findings with neurotropic spread of disease. While nerve biopsies can be precarious in sensitive areas, a history of skin cancer and clinical presentation suggestive of neurotropism may be enough to pursue timely management in the form of surgery, radiation, and/or systemic therapy given each patient's individual priorities, comorbidities, and prognosis. When adding ICPi as a treatment modality for patients with disease not amenable to local therapies, the potential for immune-related adverse events must be considered. A multi-disciplinary review and approach to the management of patients with KC and cPNI is essential for obtaining optimal patient outcomes.
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