198 Non – Melanoma Skin Cancer

37.Non – Melanoma Skin Cancer

37.1 General Considerations

Non-metanoma skin cancer- primarily basal and squamous cell carcinoma – is the most common human malignancy. Treatment includes surgical methods such as local excission, cryosurgery, laser therapy, curettage, electrodissication or Mohs micrographic surgery, but also radiation, photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy with interferon alpha, as well as local and systemic chemotherapy.

Literature: for review e.g.

De ROSA and BENTLEY, Pharm. Res. 17 (2000): 1447 – 1455

(photodynamic therapy)

THISSEN et al, Arch. Dermatol. 135 (1999): 1177-1183 (systemic treatment modalities for basal cell carcinomas )

Vander STRATEN et al, Adv. Dermatol. 16 (2000): 299-318 (pharmacologic therapy of basal cell carcinoma)

37.2 Single agent chemotherapy

Methotrexate (40 mg/m2 i.v. bolus, weekly) for squamous cell carcinoma and cisplatin (100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) for basal cell carcinoma

37.3 Combination chemotherapy

37.3.1 Cisplatin + doxorubicin (f or squamous cell carcinoma)

Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 i.v.( 1 h inf) d 1

Doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 i.v.( 24 h inf) d 1

To be repeated every 3 weeks

Literature:

GUTHRIE et al, J. Clin. Oncol. 8 (1990): 342 – 346

37.3.2. Cisplatin + 5- fluorouracil ( for squamous cell and basal carcinoma)

Cisplatin 100 mg/m2 i.v. ( 1-2 h inf) d 1

5-Fluorouracil 1000mg/m2 i.v. (24 h inf) d 1-5

To be repeated every 3 weeks

Literature:

KHANSUR et al, Cancer 67 (1991): 2020-2032

37.4 Merkel cell carcinoma

See 36,8