Opinion
Video
Immunotherapy Barriers: Multidisciplinary Approach in cSCC and BCC
Key opinion leaders underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that can break down barriers and advance CSCC and BCC therapy.
This is a video synopsis/summary of a Peer Exchange involving Jason Luke, MD, FACP; Christopher Barker, MD; Omid Hamid, MD; Vishal Patel, MD; and Catherine Pisano, MD.
Pisano cited physician inexperience with and hesitation about immunotherapy as barriers to its use in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). She emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary team to optimally administer immunotherapy and monitor adverse effects. Luke agreed and noted multidisciplinary tumor boards are less common for skin cancers than many other malignancies, highlighting the need for earlier involvement of medical oncology in cSCC/BCC care. Hamid emphasized that close coordination among oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, and other specialties enables optimal immunotherapy decision-making and toxicity monitoring from the outset rather than only at the time of unresectable disease. Patel added that the clinical courses of advanced skin cancers necessitate interdisciplinary care, given these diseases span multiple specialties. While dermatologists often have the longest relationship with patients, early input from medical oncology regarding evolving perioperative and radiation combination paradigms is critical in this rapidly moving treatment landscape to inform decisions along the entire patient journey.
Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by AJMCÒ editorial staff.
