Journal Information
Vol. 110. Issue 6.
Pages 423 (July - August 2019)
Vol. 110. Issue 6.
Pages 423 (July - August 2019)
Commentaries
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Leadership in the Treatment of Skin Cancer
El liderazgo en el tratamiento del cáncer cutáneo
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A. Boada
Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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In recent years, we have seen the introduction of several new therapies for metastatic skin cancer that have had a marked impact on the survival of our patients. These results have been accompanied by a growing interest in medical oncology for patients with skin cancer. This could increase further with the use of these drugs as adjuvant therapies, that is, for the treatment of patients who are at high risk but currently disease-free.

If dermatologists are to retain their leadership role in the management of skin cancer, they will have to acquire the tools they need to continue fulfilling this role. In this context, we applaud the AEDV's initiative in publishing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the management of the main skin cancers. These guidelines review the available evidence in order to resolve the dilemmas that arise in the management of certain situations. They also include recommendations specifically adapted to the Spanish setting. This issue includes CPG on the diagnosis and treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma.1

In the case of Merkel cell carcinoma, CPG are particularly useful for 3 reasons: a dramatic increase in the incidence of this tumor due to the growth of the population at risk (as a result of aging of the population, exposure to UV radiation, and immunosuppression)2; the aggressive nature of the disease (with survival at 5 years of only 45% of patients diagnosed with a stage T1 tumor)3; and the fact that correct decisions in the initial stages of the disease can be vital in achieving a successful therapeutic outcome.

References
[1]
J. Vázquez Doval, B. Llombart Cussac, A. Pérez Bustillo, S. Paradela de la Morena, M.J. Fuente González, M.T. Fernández-Figueras, et al.
Carcinoma de células de Merkel: diagnóstico y tratamiento en atención especializada dermatológica. Guía de Práctica Clínica de la AEDV.
Actas dermosifiliogr, (2019),
[2]
A. Kieny, B. Cribier, N. Meyer, M. Velten, J. Jégu, D. Lipsker.
Epidemiology of Merkel cell carcinoma. A population-based study from 1985 to 2013, in northeastern of France.
Int J Cancer, 144 (2019), pp. 741-745
[3]
K.L. Harms, M.A. Healy, P. Nghiem, A.J. Sober, T.M. Johnson, C.K. Bichakjian, et al.
Analysis of prognostic factors from 9387 Merkel cell carcinoma cases forms the basis for the new 8th edition AJCC staging system.
Ann Surg Oncol, 23 (2016), pp. 3564-3571

Please cite this article as: Boada A. El liderazgo en el tratamiento del cáncer cutáneo. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2019;110:423.

Copyright © 2019. Elsevier España, S.L.U. and AEDV
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