REVIEW   

Minerva Medica 2020 December;111(6):589-600

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.20.06821-4

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Challenges and new perspectives in the treatment of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Gabriella BRANCACCIO ¹, Elvira MOSCARELLA ¹, Giulia BRIATICO ¹, Pasquale VEROLINO ², Roberto ALFANO ³, Giuseppe ARGENZIANO ¹ ✉

¹ Dermatology Unit, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy; ² Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy; ³ Department of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Emergency, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy

Despite the overall excellent survival rates in patients affected by early cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), advanced forms of CSCC are associated with high patient mortality. To date, only limited therapeutic modalities have been implemented, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Systemic therapy was enriched by the addition of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRi) in the last years. Unfortunately, the overall outcome of all these therapeutic strategies remains poor, therefore important unmet clinical needs persist. Thanks to a better understanding of the biology of advanced CSCC, new treatment options are now available. This article presents the current definition of advanced CSCC along with actual therapeutic options and discusses the strengths and limitations of a new promising systemic approach, which involves the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

KEY WORDS: Squamous cell carcinoma; Skin neoplasms; Drug therapy; Radiotherapy; ErbB receptors