New research suggests cemiplimab is safe and effective in patients with refractory locally advanced (LA) and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
Researchers for the retrospective single-center Canadian study sought to characterize the real-world use of cemiplimab in patients with refractory LA and metastatic cSCC. The study included 40 patients, 16 (40%) presenting with LA disease and 24 (60%) with metastatic disease. The median duration of treatment was 3.5 months (range: 0.6 to 29.4 months).
Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the median overall survival (OS) was not reached. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.5 months (95% CI, 7.0 months-NR). Adverse events occurred in 25% of patients, with 15% discontinuing treatment due to disease progression.
"The 12 month estimates of OS and PFS were lower than pivotal phase I and II clinical trials," the authors wrote. "However, toxicity was tolerable. Cemiplimab remains a safe and effective therapy in patients with refractory LA and metastatic cSCC disease."
Source: Sturm S, et al. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2024. Doi:10.1177/120347542412656