Immunotherapy for Basal Cell Carcinoma

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer diagnosis in the United States. Approximately 3.3 million people are diagnosed with a total of 5.4 million NSMCs annually. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of NMSC; however, cancer registries do not collect information on BCC, and thus the data regarding its prevalence and true incidence are not obtainable. Previous population-based studies estimated the age-standardized annual incidence of BCC in both Caucasian men and women to be 146–422 cases per 100,000 people. BCC is largely a localized neoplasm with an estimated metastatic rate of 0.0028–0.55%. Depending on the histologic subtype, location, size, patient’s immune status, and other factors, BCC can be treated with various modalities, including Mohs micrographic surgery, which provides the highest cure rate possible. When BCC becomes locally advanced or metastatic, surgical resection may result in disfigurement and significant morbidity; therefore, an alternative therapeutic approach is needed.