Emerging noninvasive treatments of nonmelanoma skin cancers

Abstract

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy worldwide, and the incidence continues to increase. Originally, treatment options for NMSCs largely relied on destructive and surgical methods. Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) commonly are treated with cryosurgery, electrodesiccation and curettage, or more definitive surgical options. Over time, topical agents such as 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, ingenol mebutate, and various forms of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) were included for superficial lesions as well as field treatment. The development of oral hedgehog (Hh) inhibitors such as vismodegib offered a promising alternative to patients with advanced disease. Each treatment has its own specific indications and side effects, thus there is always room for novel therapeutic approaches. We review new and potential treatments for NMSCs since 2018 including topical sonidegib, cemiplimab, taladegib, posaconazole, radiation therapy (RT), combination RT with vismodegib, PDT, and laser therapies.