420 Participants Needed

Cemiplimab + Surgery for Advanced Skin Cancer

Recruiting at 49 trial locations
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Phase 3
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval
Prior Safety DataThis treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding cemiplimab to standard therapy (surgery with or without radiation) versus standard therapy alone in treating patients with stage III/IV squamous cell skin cancer that is able to be removed by surgery (resectable) and that may have come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). The usual treatment for patients with resectable squamous cell skin cancer is the removal of the cancerous tissue (surgery) with or without radiation, which uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cemiplimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Cemiplimab has been approved for the treatment of skin cancer that has spread or that cannot be removed by surgery, but it has not been approved for the treatment of skin cancer than can be removed by surgery. Adding cemiplimab to the usual treatment of surgery with or without radiation may be more effective in treating patients with stage III/IV resectable squamous cell skin cancer than the usual treatment alone.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are on medications for an active infection or certain autoimmune diseases, you may not be eligible to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug cemiplimab for advanced skin cancer?

Research shows that cemiplimab, when used before surgery, led to complete responses in 51% of patients with advanced skin cancer. It also improved survival rates compared to other treatments, making it a promising option for patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.12345

Is cemiplimab safe for use in humans?

Cemiplimab has been shown to be generally safe and well-tolerated in most patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, with common side effects including fatigue, diarrhea, itching, and rash. Severe side effects, which are less common, can include inflammation of the lungs, heart, muscles, and liver, and the risk of treatment-related death is about 3% in clinical trials.45678

How does the drug cemiplimab differ from other treatments for advanced skin cancer?

Cemiplimab is unique because it is a monoclonal antibody that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, which helps the immune system attack cancer cells. It is specifically approved for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma when surgery or radiation isn't an option, and it has shown better survival rates compared to other systemic treatments like EGFR inhibitors and chemotherapy.24568

Research Team

ND

Neil D Gross

Principal Investigator

NRG Oncology

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for patients with stage III/IV resectable squamous cell skin cancer, either previously untreated or recurrent. Eligible participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) or related metastasis and be able to undergo surgery with curative intent. Mucosal SCC and tumors that are not resectable or involve the skull base are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

I do not have squamous cell carcinoma in mucosal areas.
My tumor can be surgically removed with the goal of curing me.
My skin cancer is confirmed to be squamous cell carcinoma.
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Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Patients receive cemiplimab intravenously every 21 days for up to 4 cycles, followed by response-adaptive surgery and optional radiation therapy

12-18 weeks
4 visits (in-person) for cemiplimab, surgery visit, and potential radiation visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Up to 6 years
Follow-up visits at 1, 6, and 12 months post-surgery, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months in year 3, and annually thereafter

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Cemiplimab
  • Surgical Procedure
Trial OverviewThe study is evaluating if adding Cemiplimab, an immunotherapy drug, to standard treatment (surgery with/without radiation) improves outcomes in treating advanced skin cancer compared to standard treatment alone. The focus is on whether this combination can better help the immune system attack the cancer.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)Experimental Treatment9 Interventions
Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 84 days of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT on study, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.
Group II: Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)Active Control8 Interventions
Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 84 days of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT on study, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Lead Sponsor

Trials
14,080
Recruited
41,180,000+

Findings from Research

In a study of 79 patients with resectable stage II-IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, neoadjuvant cemiplimab treatment resulted in a high 12-month event-free survival rate of 89% and a disease-free survival rate of 92%, indicating its efficacy as a pre-surgical treatment option.
The treatment was generally safe, with only 25% of patients receiving adjuvant cemiplimab experiencing grade 3 adverse events, and no grade 4 adverse events or treatment-related deaths reported, suggesting a favorable safety profile.
Neoadjuvant cemiplimab and surgery for stage II-IV cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma: follow-up and survival outcomes of a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 study.Gross, ND., Miller, DM., Khushalani, NI., et al.[2023]
Cemiplimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, shows significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to EGFR inhibitors and pembrolizumab, with hazard ratios indicating a strong benefit.
In comparison to platinum-based chemotherapy, cemiplimab also demonstrated superior efficacy in improving overall survival for patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Comparative efficacy of cemiplimab versus other systemic treatments for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.Keeping, S., Xu, Y., Chen, CI., et al.[2021]
Cemiplimab demonstrated a significant objective response rate of 46.1% in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), with complete response rates of 20.3% for metastatic CSCC and 12.8% for locally advanced CSCC, indicating its efficacy as a treatment option.
Patients experienced durable improvements in quality of life and pain control, with significant enhancements observed as early as the second treatment cycle, highlighting the treatment's positive impact on overall well-being.
Integrated analysis of a phase 2 study of cemiplimab in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: extended follow-up of outcomes and quality of life analysis.Rischin, D., Khushalani, NI., Schmults, CD., et al.[2022]

References

Neoadjuvant cemiplimab and surgery for stage II-IV cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma: follow-up and survival outcomes of a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 study. [2023]
Comparative efficacy of cemiplimab versus other systemic treatments for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. [2021]
Integrated analysis of a phase 2 study of cemiplimab in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: extended follow-up of outcomes and quality of life analysis. [2022]
Cemiplimab in locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: results from an open-label, phase 2, single-arm trial. [2021]
Cemiplimab for the Treatment of Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Appropriate Patient Selection and Perspectives. [2023]
Cemiplimab in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. [2022]
The efficacy and safety of cemiplimab in locally advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A comparative analysis of retrospective studies versus prospective studies. [2022]
Cemiplimab for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in kidney transplant recipients. [2023]