Neoadjuvant intent anti-programmed death-1 immunotherapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients with...

Patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and concurrent hematologic malignancy are underrepresented in clinical trials of anti-programmed death-1 (PD1) therapy due to concerns about efficacy and safety. The objective of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes and safety of neoadjuvant anti-PD1 in patients with CSCC and concurrent hematologic malignancy.

This is a retrospective single-institution cohort study of neoadjuvant-intent anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with advanced CSCC and a concurrent hematologic malignancy. Patient and tumor characteristics are described. Clinical and pathologic response to anti-PD-1 therapy, safety, and CSCC recurrence risk and disease-specific survival are reported.

Ten patients with CSCC and a concurrent hematologic malignancy received immunotherapy with neoadjuvant intent. All patients were treated with cemiplimab, and 4/10 patients experienced a response by composite assessment of clinical, radiographic, and pathologic data. Two of eight patients who underwent planned surgical resection had a complete pathologic response, and 2 of 2 patients who did not undergo surgery had a clinical response on radiographic/clinical assessment. Three patients were receiving active treatment for hematologic malignancy during immunotherapy; of these, one demonstrated a clinical and pathologic response. One patient experienced a grade 3 immune-related adverse event (arthritis).

The results suggest that anti-PD-1 therapy in the neoadjuvant setting in patients with CSCC and with concurrent hematologic malignancy is feasible. The clinical outcomes observed in this small cohort highlight the need for prospective studies of patients with concurrent hematologic malignancy in future neoadjuvant CSCC trials.