Which medications in the drug class PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors are used in the treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Updated: Jul 08, 2020
  • Author: Talib Najjar, DMD, MDS, PhD; Chief Editor: Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA  more...
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Answer

PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors

Monoclonal antibody that targets checkpoint inhibitor PD-1 (programmed death 1) and blocks its interaction with programmed death ligands 1 and 2 (PD-L1 and PD-L2). This releases the PD-1 pathway-mediated inhibition of the immune response, including antitumor immune response, thereby decreasing tumor growth.

Cemiplimab (Libtayo)

Binds the PD-1 ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 to the PD-1 receptor found on T cells, thereby inhibiting T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. It is indicated for metastatic cSCC or locally advanced cSCC in patients who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

Monoclonal antibody to programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1). Pembrolizumab blocks interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. It is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cSCC that is incurable via surgery or radiation.


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