Major response to pembrolizumab in two patients with locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCC) are one of the most frequent types of cancer, with rising incidence rates(1). While the majority are cured with surgery, some CSCC are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to their local extension and metastatic potential. The recommended treatment for these advanced stages includes radiotherapy, conventional chemotherapy, or cetuximab, which tends to yield modest responses and a high prevalence of toxic effects(2). Anti- Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) therapies recently showed their efficacy in several types of tumour, especially in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomas that has continued to progress despite standard-of-care treatment, suggesting the potentical efficacy of anti-PD1 in CSCC (3,4). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.