Complete response of a large basosquamous carcinoma following treatment with cemiplimab and vismodegib.

Abstract

The anti-PD-1 antibody cemiplimab has demonstrated effectiveness in the setting of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma. We describe a case of a large, locally invasive basosquamous carcinoma, an aggressive type of BCC, invading the left sternocleidomastoid muscle with near compression of the left internal jugular vein producing a severe anaemia secondary to ulceration and chronic blood loss. The patient was initially started on vismodegib monotherapy but failed to respond. He was then started on cemiplimab in addition to vismodegib. Improvement was noted after one cycle. After 21 cycles of cemiplimab, the left shoulder ulcerated lesion was completely re-epithelialised. He remains in complete remission after 31 cycles of cemiplimab in addition to vismodegib.

• Authors: Jonathan Pirruccello, Muhammad Zubair Afzal, Mariana Voudouri, Keisuke Shirai
• Journal: BMJ case reports (BMJ Case Rep) Vol. 16 Issue 7 (Jul 14 2023) ISSN: 1757-790X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 37451798 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Chemical References

• HhAntag691
• cemiplimab
• Anilides
• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Male
• Humans
• Carcinoma, Basosquamous (drug therapy)
• Skin Neoplasms (pathology)
• Carcinoma, Basal Cell (drug therapy, pathology)
• Anilides (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)