Chemotherapy of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelids and periorbital tissues.

Eight patients, aged 62 to 85 years, with nine instances of histologically proven basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) involving the eyelids and periorbital tissues, were treated with systemic and/or local (iontophoresis) chemotherapy using cisplatin (Platinol) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin). All patients had either refused surgery, would have required extensive procedures, or had medical problems contraindicating surgery. Systemic chemotherapy induced a complete or partial remission in eight of nine lesions. No patient has required maintenance chemotherapy and no significant toxic side effects were encountered. The length of follow-up ranged from 2 to 50 months. Iontophoretic therapy with cisplatin was used to treat five small foci of new, recurrent or persistent tumor(s) in three of these patients and resulted in a partial response in all five lesions. Systemic or local chemotherapy offers an alternative to current standard forms of treatment for BCC and SCC in selected cases.