What’s Changing in the Treatment of Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

When cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is diagnosed early, surgery or radiation can often successfully control the disease. In some cases, however, the cancer cannot be fully removed, does not respond to radiation, or spreads beyond the original tumor. This is known as advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Advanced disease may be locally advanced, meaning it has grown into nearby tissues, or metastatic, meaning it has spread to lymph nodes or other organs. When surgery and radiation are no longer effective options, treatment may shift to systemic therapies that work throughout the body.

How Treatment Has Evolved

In recent years, immunotherapy has significantly changed the treatment landscape. Immune

checkpoint inhibitors help the body’s immune system recognize and respond to cancer cells

more effectively.

Cemiplimab and pembrolizumab were among the first approved immunotherapies for advanced cSCC. In 2024, cosibelimab (Unloxcyt) was approved as an additional treatment option for adults whose disease cannot be cured with surgery or radiation. The approval of another immune checkpoint inhibitor reflects continued progress in expanding options for patients and clinicians.

Read the full guide in our Education Hub:

For a detailed discussion of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, including how

these therapies work and what they may mean in care decisions, read Advanced Cutaneous

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Treatment Options and What’s New, authored by Emily Karn.

At Skin Cancer Champions, we remain committed to providing medically grounded education

and supportive resources for individuals affected by skin cancer.