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Introduction: In Germany, incidence rates of basal cell (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) rose significantly from 1998 to 2010. Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, immunosuppressants and drugs with photosensitising potential are known to increase the risk to develop BCC and SCC. The aim of our study was to analyse the adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports from Germany referring to BCC and SCC and to compare them to BCC and SCC occurring in the general population. Methods: We analysed all validated spontaneous ADR reports referring to BCC (n = 191) and SCC (n = 75) from Germany contained in the European ADR database EudraVigilance prior to 6 March 2019. These reports were compared to 1,267,210 BCC and 476,903 SCC cases from the German Centre for Cancer Registry Data recorded from 2006 to 2018. Results: The number of BCC and SCC reports as well as the BCC and SCC incidences in the registry increased in the analysed time period. Patients with drug-associated BCC (60 years) and SCC (64 years) were younger than patients with BCC (72 years) and SCC (76 years) in the registry. In 57.1 and 60.0% of BCC and SCC reports immunosuppressants were reported as suspected. The reported suspected drug was assumed to possess a photosensitising potential in 41.9 and 44.0% of BCC and SCC reports. Conclusions: In Germany, drug-associated BCC and SCC occurred at a younger age than in the general population. The results underline the necessity for skin cancer screening of patients treated with immunosuppressants or with drugs with photosensitising potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most patients with advanced basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) may not benefit sufficiently from standard treatment comprising surgery and radiation. Vismodegib, an oral selective hedgehog pathway inhibitor, is approved for treatment of patients with locally advanced BCC inappropriate for surgery or radiotherapy, or for patients with symptomatic metastatic BCC. In order to enhance understanding of the effectiveness, safety and utilization of vismodegib in clinical practice in Germany, a non-interventional study, JONAS, was conducted. A total of 53 patients with locally advanced BCC who initiated treatment with vismodegib between 2016 and 2018 were included in the study, which was embedded in the German ADOReg skin cancer registry. Duration of response, the primary endpoint, was 12.4 months, progression-free survival 32.2 months and overall response rate 77.4%. Most adverse events were mild to moderate. Overall, results confirmed previous findings, demonstrating favourable responses and manageable safety of vismodegib in patients with locally advanced BCC in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Renal transplant recipients have an increased cancer risk. The mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor sirolimus (SRL) has immunosuppressive and antitumour activities but knowledge about its use in recipients with cancer is limited. Methods We retrospectively analysed 726 renal allograft recipients converted to SRL from 10 German transplant centres. Patient and graft survival were analysed depending on malignancy status prior to conversion and tumour entity. Results Malignancy before conversion to SRL was reported in 230 patients, with 137 patients having skin cancers and 101 having solid cancers. Cancer occurred 4.6 ± 9.4 (median 3.0) years after transplantation. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease were the most prevalent skin cancers, while carcinomas of the kidney, colon and breast were the most prevalent solid cancers before conversion. Patients with prior malignancy were older and had better renal function at conversion compared with patients without a history of cancer. After conversion to SRL, cancer incidence rates (IRs) of all tumours were lower compared with rates before conversion. Cancer IRs after conversion were higher in patients with malignancy before conversion compared with those without. Patient survival was worse in patients with solid cancers compared with patients with skin cancers or without malignancies. Biopsy-proven acute rejections in the first year after conversion were less frequent in patients with malignancy compared with those without. Graft survival and renal function in all cancer types were better than in patients converted to SRL without cancers. Conclusions Conversion to SRL in patients with a history of cancer is safe regarding renal function and graft survival, while patient survival is largely dependent on tumour entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can arise by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells from multiple epidermal compartments due to aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway. Vismodegib, a small‐molecule inhibitor of this pathway, is approved for treatment of patients with locally advanced (la) BCC inappropriate for surgery or radiotherapy or patients with symptomatic metastatic (m) BCC. Objectives: The aim of this non‐interventional study was to assess effectiveness with a special focus on duration of response (DOR), safety and utilization of vismodegib for treatment of laBCC in daily practice in Germany. Methods: This non‐interventional study (NIS) observed treatment of laBCC with vismodegib according to the German label in clinical practice. All available patients who had received at least one dose of vismodegib between commercial availability of vismodegib in Germany (02 August 2013) and 3 years before end of study (31 March 2016) could be included and were documented retrospectively and/or prospectively for up to 3 years. Primary effectiveness variable was DOR. Assessment of tumour response was carried out by the treating physicians. Exploratory variables included utilization of vismodegib, decision makers for therapy and method of tumour response evaluation. All statistical analyses were descriptive. Results: Between September 2015 and March 2019, 66 patients were observed at 26 German centres. The objective response rate (ORR) was 74.2% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 90.9%. The median DOR was 15.9 months (95% CI: 9.2; 25.7; n = 49 patients with response). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 19.1 months and the median time to response (TTR) 2.7 months. A total of 340 adverse events were reported in 63 (95.5%) patients; no new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: The NIS NIELS shows effectiveness and safety of vismodegib in patients with laBCC. It confirms the transferability of the results of the pivotal trial into routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the depth spread of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) measured by histological examination and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) imaging with 30-MHz and 75-MHz probes.Materials and Methods: HFUS skin imaging was used to examine 27 BCCs. A specialized high-resolution digital ultrasound imaging system DUB (TPM GmbH, Germany) with 75-MHz and 30-MHz probes was used. After HFUS scanning, the BCCs biopsy samples were collected by punch biopsy or surgical excision for the morphological examination. Based on the histomorphology results obtained, the tumors were divided into thin (≤1 mm invasion depth) and thick (>1 mm invasion depth). Each BCC spread depth was measured during the HFUS examination with 75-MHz and 30-MHz ultrasound probes and morphological examination.Results: Thin BCCs average invasiondepth measured histologically was 0.494±0.212 mm. Its average depth obtained with HFU examination with 75-MHz and 30-MHz probes was 0.591±0.265 and 0.734±0.123 mm, respectively. High, statistically significant correlation betweenthe histological and 75 MHz HFU measurements was obtained (r=0.870). The correlation was weak (r=0.290) when using a 30 MHz transducer. The average thick BCC invasion depth values obtained with the histological examination and 30 MHz HFUS scanning was 1.845±0.718 mm and 1.995±0.699 mm, respectively. High, statistically significant (r=0.951) correlation between the thick BCC spread depth measured with 30 MHz transducer and histomorphological examination was obtained.Conclusions: In cases of BCCs with thickness of ≤1 mm, there was a high correlation (r=0.870) of the tumor spread depth between micromorphological measurements and the results obtained using a 75 MHz transducer and in cases of BCCs with thickness of >1 mm, a very high correlation (r=0.951) of the tumor spread depth was observed between histomorphometry and30 MHz transducer measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the mid-nineties Phyllactinia fraxini has become frequent in Germany. This species has hitherto been characterized by having straight conidiophore foot cells. However, we found that recent collections from Germany have conidiophores with sinuated and twisted foot cells. So far sinuated foot cells were only known from the related P. fraxinicola , another species with Eastern Asian origin. We thus hypothesized that recent collections from Germany belong to P. fraxinicola which might have been introduced to Europe. Using morphological and molecular rDNA data we found that no introduction took place and that there is only P. fraxini in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2022, a two-day PDT workshop took place in Hamburg, where dermatologists from all over Germany were invited. The event provided a comprehensive overview of current and future developments in the field of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). Experts from research and practice presented relevant aspects in short lectures and answered questions from the audience. PDT is an established treatment option for actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinomas and offers potential for the treatment of other skin diseases. PDT is characterized by several advantages, including better response, short treatment duration, and high therapy adherence. A meta-analysis has shown that PDT is effective in the long term and has advantages compared to alternative treatment options. The article describes the benefits of laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) in high-risk groups such as organ transplant recipients. By combining ablative fractional laser treatment and PDT, higher efficiency and shorter incubation time of the photosensitizer can be achieved. A retrospective study shows that the application of this therapy combination can achieve remission in patients with field cancerization. Communication between doctors and patients plays an important role in procedural therapy procedures such as PDT to build trust and ensure high therapy adherence. [Extracted from the article]

Background: A two-fold risk increase to develop basal cell carcinoma was seen in outdoor workers exposed to high solar UV radiation compared to controls. However, there is an ongoing discussion whether histopathological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype may influence the risk estimates. Objectives: To evaluate the influence of histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype on the risk to develop basal cell carcinoma in highly UV-exposed cases and controls compared to those with moderate or low solar UV exposure. Methods: Six hundred forty-three participants suffering from incident basal cell carcinoma in commonly sun-exposed anatomic sites (capillitium, face, lip, neck, dorsum of the hands, forearms outside, décolleté) of a population-based, case-control, multicenter study performed from 2013 to 2015 in Germany were matched to controls without skin cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted stratified for histological subtype, phototype 1/2 and 3/4. Dose-response curves adjusted for age, age2, sex, phototype and non-occupational UV exposure were calculated. Results: Participants with high versus no (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.24–3.50; p = 0.006) or versus moderate (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.15–3.65; p = 0.015) occupational UV exposure showed a more than two-fold significantly increased risk to develop BCC in commonly UV-exposed body sites. Multivariate regression analysis did not show an influence of phototype or histological subtype on risk estimates. The restriction of the analysis to BCC cases in commonly sun-exposed body sites did not influence the risk estimates. The occupational UV dosage leading to a 2-fold increased basal cell carcinoma risk was 6126 standard erythema doses. Conclusion: The risk to develop basal cell carcinoma in highly occupationally UV-exposed skin was doubled consistently, independent of histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]