Updates in Skin Cancer in Transplant Recipients and Immunosuppressed Patients: Review of the 2022–2023 Scientific Symposium of the International Immunosuppression and Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative

The International Immunosuppression and Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative (ITSCC) and its European counterpart, Skin Care in Organ Transplant Patients-Europe (SCOPE) are comprised of physicians, surgeons, and scientist who perform integrative collaborative research focused on cutaneous malignancies that arise in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) and patients with other forms of long-term immunosuppression. In October 2022, ITSCC held its biennial 4-day scientific symposium in Essex, Massachusetts. This meeting was attended by members of both ITSCC and SCOPE and consisted of specialists including Mohs micrographic and dermatologic oncology surgeons, medical dermatologists, transplant dermatologists, transplant surgeons, and transplant physicians. During this symposium scientific workshop groups focusing on consensus standards for case reporting of retrospective series for invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), defining immunosuppressed patient status for cohort reporting, development of multi-institutional registry for reporting rare tumors, and development of a KERACON clinical trial of interventions after a SOTRs’ first cutaneous SCC were developed. The majority of the symposium focused on presentation of the most up to date research in cutaneous malignancy in SOTR and immunosuppressed patients with specific focus on chemoprevention, immunosuppression regimens, immunotherapy in SOTRs, spatial transcriptomics, and the development of cutaneous tumor registries. Here, we present a summary of the most impactful scientific updates presented at the 2022 ITSCC symposium

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Local Recurrence Rates of Head and Neck Cutaneous Melanomas after Wide Local Excision, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, or Staged Excision

Background Prospective trials have not compared local recurrence rates for different excision techniques for cutaneous melanomas on the head and neck. Objective To determine local recurrence rates of cutaneous head and neck melanoma after wide local excision (WLE), Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), or staged excision. Methods A systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science identified all English case series, cohort studies and randomized controlled trials that reported local recurrence rates after surgery of cutaneous head and neck melanoma. A meta-analysis utilizing a random effects model calculated weighted local recurrence rates and confidence intervals (CI) for each surgical technique and for subgroups of MMS and staged excision. Results Among one-hundred manuscripts with 13,998 head and neck cutaneous melanomas, 51.0% (7138) of melanomas were treated by WLE; 34.5% (4,826) by MMS; and 14.5% (2,034) by staged excision. Local recurrence rates were lowest for MMS (0.61%; 95%CI, 0.1%-1.4%); followed by staged excision (1.8%; 95%CI, 0.1%-2.9%) and WLE (7.8%; 95%CI, 6.4%-9.3%). Limitations Definitions of local recurrence varied. Surgical techniques included varying proportions of invasive melanomas. Studies had heterogeneity. Conclusion Systematic review and meta-analysis show lower local recurrence rates for cutaneous head and neck melanoma after treatment with MMS or staged excision compared to WLE

Postoperative Complications After Interpolated Flap Repair for Mohs Defects of the Nose: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Dermatologists perform most interpolated flaps after skin cancer resection. Prospective, multicenter data on complications after interpolated flap repair in this setting are limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of physician-reported complications after interpolated flap repair of the nose. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective cohort study of 169 patients undergoing 2-stage interpolated flap repair of post-Mohs nasal defects. Frequency of bleeding, infection, dehiscence, necrosis, hospitalization, and death in the 30 days after flap placement and flap takedown are reported. RESULTS: Patients experienced 23 complications after flap placement (13.61%) and 6 complications after flap takedown (3.55%) that were related to the surgical procedure. The most frequent complication after flap placement was bleeding (9, 5.33%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.83%-9.82%). The most frequent complication after flap takedown was infection (5, 2.96%, 95% CI: 1.27%-6.74%). There was one hospitalization related to an adverse reaction to antibiotics. There were no deaths. CONCLUSION: Most complications after interpolated flap repair for post-Mohs defects of the nose are minor and are associated with flap placement. Interpolated flap repair for post-Mohs defects can be performed safely in the outpatient setting under local anesthesia

Patient-Reported Nasal Function and Appearance After Interpolation Flap Repair Following Skin Cancer Resection: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Among patients undergoing two-stage interpolated flap repair of nasal defects, nasal function, and appearance before surgery and at 16 weeks after flap takedown were compared using the Nasal Appearance and Function Evaluation Questionnaire (NAFEQ). Multicenter prospective cohort study. Adult patients with a nasal skin cancer anticipated to require two-stage interpolation flap repair completed the NAFEQ before surgery, at 1 week after flap placement, 4 weeks after flap takedown, and 16 weeks after flap takedown. One hundred sixty-nine patients were enrolled, with 138 patients completing both presurgical and 16-week post-takedown NAFEQs. Overall NAFEQ score increased by 1.09 points (1.91% improvement, confidence interval [95% CI -0.34 to 2.53]). NAFEQ functional subscale increased by 0.72 points (2.58% increase; 95% CI [0.10-1.35]) and appearance subscale increased by 0.37 points (1.28% improvement, 95% CI [-0.65 to 1.39]). At 16 weeks after flap takedown, patients\u27 perceptions of their nasal function and appearance are similar to or slightly improved when compared with their presurgical assessments