Insurance red tape may delay skin cancer surgery, new study warns

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * \* MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA * Signed informed consent * Pathology report confirming Merkel at the time of screening * Stage II, III or IV resectable (criteria based on Merkel Cell carcinoma TNM pathologic staging AJCC UICC 8th edition) or unresectable cancers amenable to surgery if a response is elicited with neoadjuvant therapy * ≥ 18 years of age * Genomics of the cancer attempted * Description of planned surgical resection by surgeon * Planned treatment with immunotherapy. Possible Beacon plan entitled OP NIVOLUMAB IPILIMUMAB NEUROENDOCRINE (PRL 8149) * 2 cycles will be given prior to surgery (=12 weeks). * MUCOSAL MELANOMA * Signed informed consent * Pathology report confirming mucosal melanoma at the time of screening * Stage III or IV resectable (TNM pathologic staging AJCC UICC 8th edition) or unresectable cancers amenable to surgery if a response is elicited with neoadjuvant therapy * ≥ 18 years of age * Genomics of the cancer attempted * Description of planned surgical resection by surgeon * SOC (standard of care) treatment planned with immunotherapy Possible Beacon plan entitled OP NIVOLUMAB IPILIMUMAB -\> NIVOLUMAB Q4 WEEK MAINTENANCE MELANOMA 4 cycles will be given prior to surgery (=12 weeks) * BASAL CELL CARCINOMA * Signed informed consent * Pathology report confirming basal cell carcinoma with subtype at the time of screening * Resectable tumor of any stage, or unresectable tumor that could be amenable to surgery if there is a good response. * ≥ 18 years of age * Genomics of the cancer attempted * Description of planned surgical resection by surgeon * SOC treatment planned with possible Beacon plan entitled OP SONIDEGIB BASAL CELL CARCINOMA 3 months will be given prior to surgery (= 12 weeks) (Vismodegib may be substituted if current national shortage of sonidegib persists) * RARE CUTANEOUS CANCERS * Signed informed consent * Pathology report confirming squamous cell carcinoma at the time of screening * Stage II, III, or IV resectable or (TNM pathologic staging AJCC UICC 8th edition) or unresectable cancers amenable to surgery if a response is elicited with neoadjuvant therapy * ≥ 18 years of age * Genomics of the cancer attempted * Description of planned surgical resection by surgeon * Planned SOC treatment with possible Beacon plan entitled OP WEEKLY CARBOPLATIN PACLITAXEL + PEMBROLIZUMAB Q3 WEEKS HEAD AND NECK * 4 cycles will be given prior to surgery (= 12 weeks) Exclusion Criteria: * \* MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA * Metastatic disease not amenable to complete resection * Prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy for treatment of MCC within the past year * Any clinically significant medical condition, which in the judgment of the attending physician would contraindicate immunotherapy * Is pregnant or breast feeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of SOC treatment. * MUCOSAL MELANOMA * Metastatic disease not amenable to complete resection * Prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy for treatment of this mucosal melanoma within the past year * Any clinically significant medical condition, which in the judgment of the attending physician would contraindicate immunotherapy * Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of SOC treatment. * BASAL CELL CARCINOMA * Metastatic disease not amenable to complete resection * Prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy for treatment of this basal cell carcinoma within the past year * Any clinically significant medical condition, which in the judgment of the attending physician would contraindicate immunotherapy * Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of SOC treatment. * RARE CUTANEOUS CANCERS * Metastatic disease not amenable to complete resection * Prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy for treatment of this mucosal melanoma within the past year * Any clinically significant medical condition, which in the judgment of the attending physician would contraindicate immunotherapy * Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of SOC treatment.