Dramatic response of refractory metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the skin with cetuximab/pembrolizumab
Hober, C.; Jamme, P.; Desmedt, E.; Greliak, A.; Mortier, L.
Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology 13: 17588359211015493
2021
ISSN/ISBN: 1758-8340 PMID: 34104225 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211015493
Accession: 071624054
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) accounts for 20% of skin cancers. At an advanced stage the prognosis is poor, making cSCC the second leading cause of death from skin cancer. In cases of metastatic or unresectable disease, anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD1) treatment has shown promising results in a recent phase II study. Although anti-PD1 treatment now offers higher response rates, the responses remain inconsistent and may lead to therapeutic impasses. Preclinical data have suggested synergy between anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) and immunotherapy. We report the case of a patient with metastatic cSCC that proved refractory first to anti-EGFR/carboplatin and then to immunotherapy, but who showed a complete and durable response with cetuximab/pembrolizumab combination. This response could reflect synergy of the two treatments.