Introduction: For basal cell carcinoma (BCC) with a high risk of recurrence not susceptible to surgery, there are few therapeutic options. The treatment of choice, as long as it is not contraindicated, is radiotherapy. HeberFERON may be one of them, but there is not enough evidence to support it. Objective: To describe the evolution of patients with high-risk facial BCC treated with HeberFERON after five years of follow-up, in a context of usual medical practice.  Methods Observational prospective cohort design, multicenter, in the context of usual medical practice. Patients with high-risk facial BCC not amenable to surgical treatment were included. Perilesional HeberFERON was administered for 3 weeks and patients were followed for five years. The main endpoints were cure at 16 weeks, recurrence and development of a second BCC at 5 years, and adverse events.  Results: 195 patients were included and one abandoned the treatment. After treatment, 143 (73.3 %) patients showed cure (complete response). Those who did not have a complete response received surgery and were declared cured. All 194 patients were followed up for 5 years, 15 (7.7 %) dropped out of follow-up. The survival analysis showed that 87.7 % (95 % CI 82.9-92.4) had the probability of being free of recurrence at 5 years and 80% (95 % CI 74.1-85.8) free of a second BCC. Adverse events were frequent but not serious and allowed the end of the treatment, highlighting fever and local reactions.  Conclusions: The response to treatment with HeberFERON was similar to that reported for radiotherapy in studies with similar patients. The HeberFERON can be considered among the first-line treatments for high-risk facial BCC not amenable to surgery and as a treatment before subsequent surgery.

Vladimir Sánchez Linares completed his Ph.D. at the age of 47 years from the University Medical Sciences of Sancti Spíritus Cuba. He is the head of the skin cancer program and postgraduate professor of dermatology too, and is a teacher and assistant investigator. He has over 25 publications. He is a reviewer for the journal Gaceta Médica Espirituana in Sancti Spíritus Cuba