Cemiplimab before surgery for Merkel cell and skin cancers
Part of Cancer, Infections, Skin clinical trials.
This early-phase study tests cemiplimab (an immune therapy that helps your immune system attack cancer) given before surgery. It aims to shrink tumors and improve outcomes for people with Merkel cell cancer or certain locally advanced skin squamous cell cancers (CSCC).
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You have been diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma confirmed by pathology (biopsy/removed tissue).
- Your cancer is stage I or II (new diagnosis or it came back), or you have planned surgery for certain stage II–IV (M0) head/neck, arm/leg, or trunk CSCC.
- Your doctors feel you can safely have the planned tumor surgery (and a sentinel lymph node biopsy may or may not be needed).
- You’re age 18 or older and your general health score (ECOG) is 0, 1, or 2.
- Your bloodwork, liver, and kidney tests are within allowed ranges within 28 days of starting the study.
- If you can become pregnant or have a partner who can: you can use effective birth control during the study and for 6 months after cemiplimab is stopped. (If you’re male: use condoms/partner protection.)
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
Similar studies
Other trials that look related to this one.
This trial tests pembrolizumab (an immune therapy) given before surgery to shrink Merkel cell carcinoma and improve outcomes. Participants also have extra tumor biopsies to study biomarkers, which may help explain who benefits most.
This trial tests a combination of two immunotherapy drugs, nivolumab and relatlimab, before surgery for Merkel cell carcinoma that can be removed. The goal is to see if this treatment shrinks the tumor and improves outcomes.
This trial tests whether giving the immunotherapy drug cemiplimab before surgery can improve outcomes for people with stage I or II Merkel cell carcinoma. If you qualify, you would receive cemiplimab before your sentinel lymph node biopsy.
This Phase 1 trial tests the drug cemiplimab given before and after surgery to reduce the chance that high-risk cutaneous squamous cell cancer comes back. You may be a candidate if your cancer is high-risk on pathology or imaging and is planned for surgical removal.
This trial tests a drug (cemiplimab) injected directly into early-stage skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) to see if it can shrink or cure the cancer before surgery. It may help patients avoid more extensive surgery or reduce the chance of the cancer coming back.
This trial tests cemiplimab, an immunotherapy drug, as a first treatment for advanced basal cell carcinoma that cannot be removed with surgery or radiation. The goal is to see if it can shrink or control the cancer.
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