Case Series: Cemiplimab and Nivolumab Immunotherapy as Promising Treatment in Advanced or Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Fei Ya Lai; Rachel Clarke; Patrick Cooper; John Stokes; Paula Calvert

doi:10.1159/000533759

Case Series: Cemiplimab and Nivolumab Immunotherapy as Promising Treatment in Advanced or Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Case Rep Oncol. 2023 Oct 16;16(1):1156-1165. doi: 10.1159/000533759. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Fei Ya Lai¹, Rachel Clarke¹, Patrick Cooper², John Stokes³, Paula Calvert¹

Affiliations

¹ Oncology Department, University Hospital Waterford, Waterford, Ireland.
² Radiology Department, University Hospital Waterford, Waterford, Ireland.
³ Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Waterford, Waterford, Ireland.

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common skin cancer. Surgery is usually curative; however, some locally advanced or metastatic CSCC may be unresectable. Current novel therapeutic options with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) of programmed-death receptor 1 (PD-1) such as cemiplimab and nivolumab have demonstrated promising and sustained results with good tolerability in patients with CSCC. This study looks at 2 cases of CSCC treated with cemiplimab and nivolumab, respectively, demonstrating dramatic response within 2 cycles with significant reduction in tumour size and minimal toxicities or adverse outcomes reported. Immunotherapy has shown positive results as an effective treatment option for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic CSCC. It is currently approved for use in the USA and Europe.

Keywords: Cutaneous oncology; Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; Dermatology; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immunotherapy; Immunotoxicities; Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Case Reports

Grants and funding

The authors declare no funding or grant was received from any external agency for this study.