Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common type of skin cancer that is becoming more frequent worldwide.1
Removing the cancer through surgery
Removing nearby lymph nodes if the cancer has spread
Additional radiation treatment, sometimes combined with other medications that travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body
Managing advanced cSCC involves a team of specialists working together to create the best treatment plan. Here’s a breakdown of the main treatment options:
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Inhibitors are drugs that target specific proteins on cancer cells to stop their growth. Examples include:
Side effects can include skin problems and diarrhea. Resistance to these drugs can occur, so combinations with other treatments are often explored.1
The immune system is designed to protect your body from harmful invaders while avoiding attacks on healthy cells. It does this using “checkpoint” proteins on immune cells, which act like switches that turn the immune response on or off.6
Cancer cells can sometimes manipulate these checkpoints to avoid being attacked by the immune system. However, certain drugs called checkpoint inhibitors can block these proteins, helping the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells.6
Two important drugs that target a checkpoint protein called PD-1 are cemiplimab and pembrolizumab. PD-1 is a protein on immune cells known as T cells, which usually helps prevent these cells from attacking other cells in the body. By blocking PD-1, these drugs can enhance the immune system’s ability to attack cancer cells.6
Figure. PD-L1 is found on tumor cells, while PD-1 is found on immune cells called T cells. When PD-L1 on the tumor cell binds to PD-1 on the T cell, it blocks essential cell survival signaling pathways, effectively inhibiting the cytotoxic T cell. This inhibition deactivates the protective function of the T cell, enabling the tumor cell to grow. Cemiplimab and pembrolizumab prevent this process by blocking PD-1 or PD-L1, allowing the immune cells to eliminate the tumor cells.7
Cemiplimab
Pembrolizumab
These therapies have shown promise in improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with advanced cSCC. Ongoing research continues to enhance these treatment strategies, offering hope for better management of this challenging condition.
