Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Epidemiology and natural history of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients: 20 years’ experience of a reference centre in Spain

  • Brief Research Article
  • Published:
Clinical and Translational Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the leading cause of death in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). We provide the management and prognosis of cSCC in RDEB patients at a Spanish reference center.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively included patients with RDEB attended in La Paz University Hospital from November 1988 to October 2018.

Results

Fourteen patients developed at least one cSCC. Tumors were predominantly well differentiated. Nearly half of the tumors have recurred. Median time to first recurrence was 23.4 months (95% CI: 17.2–29.5). Five patients have developed distant metastases. Median overall survival (mOS) was 136.5 months since the diagnosis of the first cSCC (95% CI: 30.6–242.3). When distant metastases occurred, mOS was 6.78 months (95% CI: 1.94–11.61).

Conclusions

cSCC is a life-threatening complication of RDEB patients. Although tumors are usually well differentiated, they tend to relapse. This is the first Spanish report of cSCC arising in RDEB patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fine JD, Bruckner-Tuderman L, Eady RA, Bauer EA, Bauer JW, Has C, et al. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa: updated recommendations on diagnosis and classification. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(6):1103–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Fine JD, Johnson LB, Weiner M, Li KP, Suchindran C. Epidermolysis bullosa and the risk of life-threatening cancers: the National EB Registry experience, 1986–2006. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60(2):203–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Montaudié H, Chiaverini C, Sbidian E, Charlesworth A, Lacour JP, et al. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa and squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review of 117 cases. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2016;11(1):117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Amin MB, Edge S, Greene F, et al., editors. AJCC cancer staging manual. 8th ed. New York: Springer; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Eisenhauer EA, Therasse P, Bogaerts J, et al. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). Eur J Cancer. 2009;45:228–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim M, Murrell DF. Update on the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma development in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Eur J Dermatol. 2015;25(Suppl 1):30–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Guerra L, Odorisio T, Zambruno G, Castiglia D. Stromal microenvironment in type VII collagen-deficient skin: the ground for squamous cell carcinoma development. Matrix Biol. 2017;63:1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kim M, Li M, Intong-Wheeler LRA, Tran K, Marucci D, Murrell DF. Epidemiology and outcome of squamous cell carcinoma in epidermolysis bullosa in Australia and New Zealand. Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(1):70–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bastin KT, Steeves RA, Richards MJ. Radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: case reports and literature review. Am J Clin Oncol. 1997;20(1):55–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kim M, Li M, Intong LRA, Tran K, Melbourne W, Marucci D, et al. Use of cetuximab as an adjuvant agent to radiotherapy and surgery in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa with squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Dermatol. 2013;169:208–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Arnold AW, Bruckner-Tuderman L, Zuger C, Itin PH. Cetuximab therapy of metastasizing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Dermatology. 2009;219:80–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Schwartz RA, Birnkrant AP, Rubenstein DJ, Kim U, Burgess GH, Stoll HL, et al. Squamous cell carcinoma in dominant type epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica. Cancer. 1981;47:615–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lentz SR, Raish RJ, Orlowski EP, Marion JM. Squamous cell carcinoma in epidermolysis bullosa. Treatment with systemic chemotherapy. Cancer. 1990;66:1276–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wechsler HL, Krugh FJ, Domonkos AN. Polydysplastic epidermolysis bullosa and development of epidermal neoplasms. Arch Dermatol. 1970;102(4):374–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mallipeddi R. Epidermolysis bullosa and cancer. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002;27(8):616–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mellerio JE, Robertson SJ, Bernardis C, Diem A, Fine JD, George R, et al. Management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: best clinical practice guidelines. Br J Dermatol. 2016;174(1):56–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Migden MR, Rischin D, Schmults CD, Guminski A, Hauschild A, Lewis KD, et al. PD-1 blockade with cemiplimab in advanced cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(4):341–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors from UC3M-CIEMAT-CIBERER-IISFJD group are grateful for funding received from the Community of Madrid (AvanCell-CM: B2017/BMD-3692), from the European Union (GENEGRAFT: HEALTH-F2-2011-261392), from the Carlos III Institute of Health and ERDF, “Investing in your future” (AES_ICI14/00327- ICI14/00363), from ERDF/The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities – Agencia Estatal de Investigación (SAF2017-86810-R), and from the Patient Associations, Berritxuak and DEBRA-España.

Funding

This work has not been supported by public grants or financial support. No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

All the authors have contributed equally to this work. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Viñal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

Local ethical committee approved the use of anonymized historic samples and data for the study and waived informed consent from patients.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Castelo, B., Viñal, D., Maseda, R. et al. Epidemiology and natural history of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients: 20 years’ experience of a reference centre in Spain. Clin Transl Oncol 21, 1573–1577 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-019-02073-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-019-02073-3

Keywords

Navigation