Surgery in the Era of Immunotherapy for Advanced Head and Neck Non-melanoma Skin Cancer

Purpose of ReviewSurgery remains the mainstay of treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Immunotherapy (IO) has emerged as an alternative option. This review provides a contemporary summary of how to incorporate IO into the management of advanced NMSC. Evidence-based outcomes and recent clinical trials are provided with emphasis on the three most common NMSC diagnoses: cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).Recent FindingsSurgical resection while preserving form and function remains the standard of care for the majority of NMSCs. In recalcitrant cases failing traditional surgery and/or primary radiation, patient ineligible for such treatments, or unresectable disease, IO has emerged as a promising alternative. In the majority of cases, it is a supplanting primary chemotherapy.Surgery remains the standard of care for NMSC. Immunotherapy has emerged as an alternative option for non-surgical candidates and as a neoadjuvant means to minimize morbidity.

Automated summary

Surgery is still the main treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), but immunotherapy is now emerging as an alternative option. This review provides a contemporary summary of how to incorporate immunotherapy into the management of advanced NMSC, focusing on evidence-based outcomes and recent clinical trials for the three most common NMSC diagnoses: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), and merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).