An updated review of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cutaneous oncology: Beyond melanoma

James P Pham; Ramon Staeger; Anthony M Joshua; Jia Liu; Ines P da Silva; Reinhard Dummer; Simone M Goldinger

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2024.115121

An updated review of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cutaneous oncology: Beyond melanoma

Eur J Cancer. 2025 Jan:214:115121. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.115121. Epub 2024 Nov 16.

Authors

James P Pham¹, Ramon Staeger², Anthony M Joshua³, Jia Liu⁴, Ines P da Silva⁵, Reinhard Dummer², Simone M Goldinger⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St Vincent's Clinical Campus, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
² Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
³ Department of Medical Oncology, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St Vincent's Clinical Campus, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St Vincent's Clinical Campus, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St Vincent's Clinical Campus, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39580882
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.115121

Abstract

Over the last decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been established as an integral component of the contemporary anticancer armamentarium. In dermatology, ICIs are most established as treatment of advanced melanoma. However, emerging evidence has demonstrated that their utility in cutaneous oncology extends to a variety of other non-melanoma malignancies. This review provides an update of the evidence from clinical trials, real world analyses, and translational research over the last three years in cutaneous malignancies beyond melanoma. Special focus is presented on areas warranting further evaluation - including populations underrepresented in or excluded from clinical trials; new and emerging treatment scenarios beyond patients with metastatic disease; novel combination approaches; and the urgent need for reliable predictive biomarkers to identify predictors of response. Collaboration between oncologists, dermatologists and dermatological surgeons is essential to progress our understanding and treatment of patients with advanced cutaneous malignancies.

Keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Basket trials; Biomarkers; Cutaneous lymphoma; Cutaneous oncology; Cutaneous sarcoma; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Immunotherapy; Merkel’s cell carcinoma; Skin cancer; Squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
Melanoma* / drug therapy
Melanoma* / immunology
Skin Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Skin Neoplasms* / immunology
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors