Advances in the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common non-melanoma skin cancers worldwide. Whilemost cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are easilymanaged, there is a high-risk subset of tumors that can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Tumor characteristics as well as patient characteristics contribute to the classification of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas as low-risk vs. high-risk. Advances in the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas largely relate to themanagement of this high-risk subset. Surgical and non-surgical management options, including newer targeted molecular therapies, will be discussed here. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to determine the exact significance of individual risk factors with respect to aggressive clinical behavior and the risks ofmetastasis and death, aswell as the role of surgical and adjuvant therapies in patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.