WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2024 -- For cemiplimab-treated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), prior radiotherapy is associated with improved progression-free survival, according to a study published online June 15 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Valerio Nardone, M.D., from the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" in Naples, Italy, and colleagues conducted a retrospective study aimed at assessing the real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with cSCC treated with cemiplimab at a single institution. Data were included for 45 patients (median age, 77 years); 73.3 percent were men.

The researchers found that median progression-free survival and overall survival were not reached after 18 months of follow-up, with a mean of 21.3 ± 2.2 and 25.3 ± 2.1 months, respectively. Significant correlations were only seen between progression-free survival and previous radiotherapy in univariate and multivariate analyses.

"This study reveals a notable correlation between prior radiotherapy and enhanced progression-free survival in individuals with advanced cSCC treated with cemiplimab," the authors write. "By validating the established synergies between radiotherapy and immunotherapy from both preclinical and clinical perspectives, our findings underscore the potential benefits of combining radiotherapy with cemiplimab."