Radiation therapy of cutaneous cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncological Radiotherapy
• Dermatology
• Cutaneous Oncology

Background:

• Indications for radiotherapy in skin cancer treatment lack clear definition due to limited prospective studies.
• Surgery is often preferred for basal cell carcinomas, but radiotherapy remains an option for specific patient groups and tumor characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update recommendations for radiotherapy in cutaneous cancer treatment.
• To provide guidance on radiotherapy indications, techniques, and dosages for various skin malignancies.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing evidence, including randomized trials and epidemiological studies.
• Development of updated clinical recommendations by the French Society of Oncological Radiotherapy.

Main Results:

• Radiotherapy demonstrates good local control for basal cell carcinomas, particularly when surgery is contraindicated.
• Adjuvant radiotherapy is beneficial for specific squamous cell carcinomas and desmoplastic melanomas.
• Prophylactic nodal irradiation and adjuvant radiotherapy improve local control for Merkel cell carcinomas, with specific dosing recommendations provided.

Conclusions:

• Radiotherapy is a valuable treatment modality for various skin cancers, including Kaposi sarcomas and cutaneous lymphomas.
• Updated guidelines offer precise recommendations for radiotherapy use in specific cutaneous malignancies, aiming to optimize treatment efficacy and patient management.