Energy-Based Devices for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment

The presentation discusses the use of energy-based devices in treating non-melanoma skin cancers, particularly keratinocyte cancers, which are a growing global health concern. With around 3.5 million cases annually in the US, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represent the most common types. The presentation emphasizes the need for tailored treatments for diverse patient presentations and delves into various treatment modalities, such as vascular lasers and ablative devices, targeting BCC. The use of pulsed dye and near-infrared lasers has shown varying success rates, with newer technologies like the neodymium YAG laser yielding up to 90% cure rates, although residual tumors and scarring remain issues. Ablative fractional lasers are highlighted for their effectiveness in tumor ablation and gene expression modulation related to BCC. The combination of laser therapy with drugs, particularly in photodynamic therapy (PDT), has yielded better patient outcomes than PDT alone. Moreover, a focus on the immune response enhancement when coupling ablative lasers with immune modulating therapies, such as PD-1 inhibitors, shows promise, especially for topical applications in skin cancer treatment. The presentation concludes with a positive outlook on the potential advancements in less invasive, effective skin cancer treatments, acknowledging the collaborative efforts in the research field.