A multicenter real-world analysis of risk factors, therapeutics, and outcomes of patients with metastatic basal cell carcinoma

Background: Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (mBCC) is rare and there are limited data regarding patient and tumor risk factors, optimal treatments, and disease prognosis.

Objective: To assess patient and tumor characteristics, therapeutics, and outcomes of mBCC stratified by location of metastasis.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 53 patients with mBCC treated at 4 large academic centers in Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Cleveland, Ohio between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2021.

Results: A total of 53 patients with mBCC were identified across 4 centers, 22 (42%) of whom had mBCC with spread limited to lymph nodes and 31 (58%) patients with distant organ spread (with or without lymph node involvement). Overall, half (n = 11) of patients with nodal metastasis achieved complete remission of disease, compared with just 1 (3%) patient with distant metastasis. The 5-year survival for nodal and distant metastatic patients was 89.3% and 61.0%, respectively.

Limitations: Small sample size due to disease rarity.

Conclusions and relevance: Patients with nodal disease are more likely to have disease remission whereas patients with distant metastasis are more likely to have persistent disease and die from their disease. However, 5-year survival rates exceed 50%, even for stage IV disease.