The Current Treatment Landscape of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common form of skin cancer worldwide. The global incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is rising, with an estimated 2.4 million cases diagnosed in 2019. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for developing CSCC. Most early-stage CSCCs are treated successfully with surgery or radiotherapy; however, locally advanced or metastatic disease can be associated with significant morbidity or mortality. Recently, the treatment paradigm for advanced CSCC has been revolutionised by the introduction of immunotherapy, which can achieve a response rate of approximately 50% with durable cancer control, and significant improvement in quality of life. With the regulatory approval of programmed death-1 (PD-1)-targeting drugs since 2018, immunotherapy is now recognised as the standard of care for first-line systemic therapy in advanced or metastatic CSCC.