Knowledge Gaps Among Dermatologists Regarding Immunotherapy for Non-melanoma Skin Cancer.

Background

Advanced nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a sometimes unrecognized public health burden. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as those affecting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), have dramatically changed the management of advanced NMSC. Dermatologists need to be knowledgeable about these therapies given their key role in diagnosing, treating, and comanaging NMSC. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge base and identify knowledge gaps that dermatologists may have regarding ICIs and assess advanced NMSC referral patterns.

Methods

A 10-question survey was emailed to United States-based dermatologists in July 2021 assessing knowledge of ICI therapy and referral patterns for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (mcSCC) or locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC) management.

Results

At their current knowledge level, respondents averaged 40.6 out of 100 (95% CI [35.1, 46.0]) when asked how comfortable they feel counseling a patient on the risks and benefits of an ICI. Seventy-one percent reported that having more information about treatment for mcSCC or laBCC would be helpful in their practice. Being in practice for less than 10 years was not significantly associated with desiring more information about treatment. The respondents reported that the highest number of annual average referrals out for mcSCC or laBCC were made to Mohs surgeons. Fifty-four percent of respondents received referrals for mcSCC or laBCC, and of the providers receiving referrals, 40 percent of them came from general dermatology.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that a knowledge gap exists for dermatologists in treating mcSCC and laBCC with immunotherapy. There is a need among all dermatologists, regardless of years in practice, to receive this information.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2022. Matrix Medical Communications. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

DISCLOSURES: Dr. Schlesinger reports the following disclosures: AbbVie Consulting (Honoraria)/Grant/Research Funding Acrutis Premier Research Grant/Research Funding Allergan Consulting (Honoraria)/Advisory Board/Grant/Research Funding Almirall Speaker's Bureau/Advisory Board (Honoraria)/Consulting Amgen Advisory Board Anterios Grant/Research Funding AOBiome Grant/Reasearch Funding Astellas Pharma US, Inc Grant/Research Funding Athenex Grant/Research Funding Bioderma (Honoraria) Advisory Board (Honoraria) Biofrontera Grant/Research Funding Biofrontera AG Advisory Board (Honoraria) BioPharmx Consulting Biorasi Grant/Research Funding Boehringer Ingerlheim Grant/Research Funding Brickell Biotech Grant/Research Funding Bristol-Meyers Squibb Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Honoraria) Cara Therapeutics Grant/Research Funding Castle BioScience Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Honoraria) Celgene Grant/Research Funding/Advisory Board Centocor Ortho Biotech (Now Janssen Biotech) Grant/Research Funding ChemoCentryx Grant/Research Funding CMS Aesthetics DCME Consulting Coherus Biosciences Grant/Research Funding Concert Pharmaceutical Grant/Research Funding Corrona Grant/Research Funding Cutanea Life Sciences Grant/Research Funding Dermavant Grant/Research Funding Dermira Grant/Research Funding DT Pharmacy & DT Collagen (Melasma) Grant/Research Funding DUSA/ Sun Pharma Speaker Bureau EPI Health Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Honoraria)/Speaker's Bureau Foundation for Research and Education in Dermatology (Fred) Consulting (Honoraria) Galderma (Nestle) Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Honoraria) Greenway Therapeutix Advisory Board (No Compensation received) Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc Grant/Research Funding Kiniksa Grant/Research Funding Kintor Consulting Leo Grant/Research Funding Lilly Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Fees) MED Learning Group CME Program (Aug-Oct 2019) Merz Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Honoraria) MJH Associates OncLive SCC Insights Filming/Stacy Jaffe Nestle Skin Health Grant/Research Funding Nextphase Consulting Nimbus Grant/Research Funding Novartis Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Honoraria) Ortho Dermatologics Consulting, Fees Pfizer Grant/Research Funding Pharmatecture Consulting Pierre Fabre Consulting, Fees Plasmed Consulting, Fees Processa Grant/Research Funding Prolacta Bioscience Consulting Pulse BioSciences Grant/Research Funding Regeneron Grant/Research Funding/Consulting (Fees)/Speaker's Bureau (Honoraria) Remedly, Inc Advisory Board (Stock Options) Sanofi Genzyme Grant/Research Funding/Speaker's Bureau Sisaf Grant/Research Funding Skinceuticals/L'Oreal Consulting, Fees Sun Pharma Consulting/Speaker's Bureau (Honoraria) Trevi Grant/Research Funding UCB Consulting Verrica Consulting. Dr. Rigel serves as a consultant, advisory board member and speaker for Castle Biosciences, Inc. Dr. Brownstone and Dr. Marson have no disclosures.