Update on Cemiplimab in Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Posted: Monday, November 26, 2018
Further data providing continued support of cemiplimab’s potential utility in treating metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2018 Congress in Munich (Abstract 1292P). An increasing duration of response was the focus of this analysis.
Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, of Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, offered data from two expansion cohorts of a phase I study of the human monoclonal anti–PD-1 agent, in which a “positive risk/benefit profile and antitumor activity” had been previously reported.
A total of 26 patients with distantly metastatic or unresectable, locally or regionally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled; they received cemiplimab at 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks by intravenous infusion for up to 48 weeks. With a median duration of follow-up of 11.9 months, the overall response rate was 50.0%, with 2 complete responses and 11 partial responses. The median time to response was 1.9 months.
“The median duration of response has not been reached, and as of the data cutoff date, for patients with complete or partial responses, the observed duration of response exceeded 6 months in 9 patients and 12 months in 5 patients,” Dr. Owonikoko and colleagues noted.
As for toxicity, fatigue was the most common treatment-emergent adverse event, occurring in 26.9% of patients. Hypercalcemia and skin infection were the only treatment-related side effects of grade ≥ 3 that were observed in more than one patient.
