PREVALENCE OF IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CONDITIONS AMONG PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Author(s)
Blessing I. Okoye, MS1, Asif Shaikh, DrPH2, Komal Singh, PhD2;
1The University of Texas at Austin, Health Outcomes Division, Austin, TX, USA, 2Sun Pharmaceuticals, Princeton, NJ, USA
1The University of Texas at Austin, Health Outcomes Division, Austin, TX, USA, 2Sun Pharmaceuticals, Princeton, NJ, USA
OBJECTIVES: Immunocompromised conditions (IC) elevate the risk and severity of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), yet the burden of IC in this population is not well defined. This study estimated the overall and region-specific prevalence of IC among patients with advanced cSCC and those with advanced cSCC unamenable to curative surgery or radiation.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted across EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed, with additional citation searching for eligible studies published in English from inception to 2025. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts, and the full-text screening and data extraction were conducted by one reviewer based on predefined eligibility criteria. Data was synthesized quantitatively using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: Across the 88 eligible studies, 9,540 patients with aCSCC, with a mean age ranging from 64-80 years (79.2% male), were included. The overall prevalence of IC was 17.0%, with hematological malignancies having the highest prevalence of 5.9%, SOTR (3.6%), autoimmune conditions (1.3%), long-term immunosuppressive therapy (0.7%), chronic systemic corticosteroid (0.2%), and HIV/AIDS (0.1%). Prevalence varied geographically, with the highest rates of IC in Canada, Israel, USA, and UK (22.5%-31.1%). In a subgroup of 3,101 patients (mean age: 77-80 years, 76.0% male) with aCSCC unamenable to curative surgery or radiation, the prevalence of IC was 22.8% and similarly, hematological malignancies (11.8%) were the most prevalent IC followed by autoimmune conditions (3.2%), SOTR (2.2%), long-term immunosuppressive therapy (0.3%), chronic systemic corticosteroids (0.3%), and HIV/AIDS (0.1%). Geographical regions with the highest prevalence of IC were Canada, Australia, Isreal, and USA (32.0%-23.6%).
CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 6 patients with aCSCC is immunocompromised, with hematological malignancies being the most prevalent. This reflects a substantial, underserved population and the need to develop effective and safe therapies in this population.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted across EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed, with additional citation searching for eligible studies published in English from inception to 2025. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts, and the full-text screening and data extraction were conducted by one reviewer based on predefined eligibility criteria. Data was synthesized quantitatively using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: Across the 88 eligible studies, 9,540 patients with aCSCC, with a mean age ranging from 64-80 years (79.2% male), were included. The overall prevalence of IC was 17.0%, with hematological malignancies having the highest prevalence of 5.9%, SOTR (3.6%), autoimmune conditions (1.3%), long-term immunosuppressive therapy (0.7%), chronic systemic corticosteroid (0.2%), and HIV/AIDS (0.1%). Prevalence varied geographically, with the highest rates of IC in Canada, Israel, USA, and UK (22.5%-31.1%). In a subgroup of 3,101 patients (mean age: 77-80 years, 76.0% male) with aCSCC unamenable to curative surgery or radiation, the prevalence of IC was 22.8% and similarly, hematological malignancies (11.8%) were the most prevalent IC followed by autoimmune conditions (3.2%), SOTR (2.2%), long-term immunosuppressive therapy (0.3%), chronic systemic corticosteroids (0.3%), and HIV/AIDS (0.1%). Geographical regions with the highest prevalence of IC were Canada, Australia, Isreal, and USA (32.0%-23.6%).
CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 6 patients with aCSCC is immunocompromised, with hematological malignancies being the most prevalent. This reflects a substantial, underserved population and the need to develop effective and safe therapies in this population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH25
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Geriatrics, SDC: Oncology