Journal of Translational Medicine (Feb 2023)

IL-6 as new prognostic factor in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma treated with cemiplimab

  • Domenico Mallardo,
  • Ester Simeone,
  • Lucia Festino,
  • Marilena Tuffanelli,
  • Vito Vanella,
  • Claudia Trojaniello,
  • Maria Grazia Vitale,
  • Margaret Ottaviano,
  • Mariaelena Capone,
  • Gabriele Madonna,
  • Francesca Sparano,
  • Eleonora Cioli,
  • Luigi Scarpato,
  • Marco Palla,
  • Rossella Di Trolio,
  • Paolo Meinardi,
  • Corrado Caracò,
  • Gerardo Ferrara,
  • Paolo Muto,
  • Ernesta Cavalcanti,
  • Paolo Antonio Ascierto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-023-03971-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Background Prognostic factors for initial response of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to cemiplimab treatment are lacking. Il-6 has been found to affect immune cell populations which impact tumor development. The aim was to investigate the prognostic significance of IL-6 serum levels before and during treatment. Methods Serum levels of IL-6 were correlated with clinical outcomes in a retrospective study. Results Overall, 39 patients were enrolled. High serum levels of IL-6 (> 5.6 pg/ml) were associated with poorer survival (45.1% vs 0 deaths; OS: 16.1 ± 1.5 vs 20.8 ± 0 months, 95% CI 13,046 to 19,184) and shorter PFS (10.3 ± 1.9 vs 18.9 ± 1.5 months; 95% CI 3433 to 10,133) in patients with advanced CSCC treated with cemiplimab. In addition, patients whose IL-6 level increased after treatment with cemiplimab, independently of the basal level, had a poorer response to treatment than patients whose level was reduced or stable after immunotherapy. Conclusions Serum levels of IL-6 at baseline and changes after cemiplimab immunotherapy may have a prognostic significance in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

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