Cemiplimab adjuvant therapy for treating high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Cemiplimab is in development for the adjuvant treatment of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) at high-risk of recurrence after surgery and radiation therapy. cSCC is a type of skin cancer that develops in the outermost layer of the skin. Certain factors can increase an individual’s risk of developing cSCC, such as exposure to the sun, fair skin, history of sunburn, and immune conditions. Because of this, cSCC is usually present on areas of skin that are commonly exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, and forearms. Characteristics of high-risk cSCC include the cancer growing deep, looking more aggressive under the microscope, being in a sensitive area and reoccurring after treatment. Adjuvant therapies are given to patients following the main treatment to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. Although in many cases surgery is successful, in some cases the disease can reoccur.