Active Surveillance for the Treatment of Low-Risk Basal Cell Carcinoma in Elderly Patients

Study Summary

This clinical trial evaluates whether active surveillance (AS) is a safe and comfortable alternative to standard of care (SOC) treatment for elderly patients with low-risk basal cell carcinoma (LR-BCC). Basal cell carcinoma is a type of slow-growing skin cancer that has a very low risk of spreading inside the body (metastasis) or death. Basal cell skin cancers that are smaller across than a nickel in size and located on the trunk or limbs are particularly low risk to overall health. Active surveillance - watching and not treating unless the cancer worsens - has been shown to be a generally safe way to manage LR-BCC. Despite this, many doctors do not feel comfortable discussing this option with patients due to a lack of studies comparing it to standard of care treatment. Standard of care treatment for LR-BCC can include "scrape and burn" (electrodesiccation and curettage), surgical resection, Mohs surgery, and other approaches. These treatments can carry risks like post-operative bleeding and wound infection, and they do not always improve tumor-related quality of life. Active surveillance may be a safe and comfortable alternative to SOC treatment for elderly patients with LR-BCC.

Primary Outcome

Will evaluate the associations between baseline characteristics and the primary outcome of enrollment in part B (up to accrual target for 100 subjects) by logistic regression. Baseline characteristics include demographics, clinical data, patient-reported measures, baseline comfort with active surveillance (AS), and interest in enrollment in part B. The clinical research coordinator will assign each participant in part A a value of 1 if enrolled in part B or 0 if not enrolled (up to accrual targe

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• OTHER Survey Administration
• OTHER Best Practice
• OTHER Patient Observation
• OTHER Educational Activity

Study Locations (1)