Management of immune-related adverse events in anti-PD-1-treated patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown very promising results in the management of patients with inoperable or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). However, ICI can cause a range of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affecting a multitude of organs including skin, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, heart, lung, kidneys and the nervous system. In principle, clinical management irAEs does not change significantly with respect to the kind of cancer treated with ICI. However, advanced cSCC typically occurs in a clinically challenging patient population typically presenting with advanced age and/or significant comorbidities such as immunosuppression due to haematological malignancies and their respective treatment. Moreover, many patients with advanced cSCC are organ transplant patients taking immunosuppressants. As a consequence use of ICI per se and management of ICI-induced irAEs generates more complexity and difficulties in patients with cSCC compared to other entities. Here, we provide a brief review on the management of anti-programmed cell death protein 1-induced irAEs in patients with cSCC focusing on the characteristic clinical challenges present in this population.

• Authors: T Gambichler, C H Scheel, J Reuther, L Susok
• Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 36 Suppl 1 Pg. 23-28 (Jan 2022) ISSN: 1468-3083 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34855251 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2021 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Chemical References

• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Organ Transplantation
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy)