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

Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (mBCC) is rare and there are limited data regarding patient and tumor risk factors, optimal treatments, and disease prognosis.To assess patient and tumor characteristics, therapeutics, and outcomes of mBCC stratified by location of metastasis.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.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.Small sample size due to disease rarity.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.