Long-term outcomes with neoadjuvant cemiplimab for advanced, resectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

A pilot phase 2 trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) found pathologic responses in 75% of patients receiving neoadjuvant cemiplimab (anti-PD-1) for advanced, resectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CSCC-HN). Long-term outcomes of the trial have now been published. At a median follow-up of 42.3 months (range 7.7-50.6) 85% of patients remained disease free. Among the 75% of patients with pathologic response to neoadjuvant cemiplimab, none had recurrence. For the entire cohort, 3-year disease-free survival rate was 83.9% and 3-year overall survival rate was 90%.