Treatment Strategies in cSCC

In this episode, “Treatment Strategies in cSCC,” the panelists explore current treatment approaches for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) across low-risk, high-risk, and advanced stages of disease. The expert faculty discuss how treatment selection is guided by tumor characteristics, anatomic location, recurrence risk, patient preferences, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

The panel reviews management options for localized low-risk cSCC, including topical therapies, cryotherapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, photodynamic therapy, simple excision, and Mohs micrographic surgery. The discussion highlights the importance of shared decision-making and balancing efficacy, cosmetic outcomes, and patient lifestyle considerations when selecting treatment approaches.

For high-risk localized disease, the expert faculty discuss the role of Mohs surgery, wide local excision, tumor board evaluation, and adjuvant radiation therapy, particularly in cases involving perineural invasion, close margins, or recurrent disease. The panel also examines how multidisciplinary management supports treatment planning for more complex tumors.

Additionally, the discussion focuses on the evolving treatment landscape for advanced and metastatic cSCC, including the growing role of immunotherapy. The panelists review clinical experience with PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors, while also discussing ongoing questions surrounding treatment sequencing, clinical trial outcomes, and patient selection. Throughout the episode, the expert faculty emphasize how precision medicine and molecular profiling approaches may further refine treatment decisions and help individualize care for patients with cSCC.

The next episode in this series, “Long-Term Management Strategies in cSCC,” features the panelists discussing the evolving role of clinical guidelines and molecular profiling in shaping personalized management approaches for patients with cSCC.