# Novel Immunotherapeutic Approaches for Patients with Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

## TL;DR

This review discusses new immunotherapy strategies for treating head and neck skin cancer, focusing on improving outcomes and overcoming resistance.

## Contribution

The paper highlights novel perioperative immunotherapy approaches and emerging biomarkers for patient selection in head and neck CSCC.

## Key findings

- Neoadjuvant ICIs show high response rates but unclear survival benefits in head and neck CSCC.
- Adjuvant ICIs are being studied for their effectiveness in preventing cancer recurrence.
- Circulating tumor DNA is emerging as a key biomarker for optimizing treatment outcomes.

## Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer and typically involves the head and neck. Systemic therapy is often required for patients with advanced CSCC to achieve optimal disease control. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now the standard of care for these patients, with a 50%–60% response rate and sustainable remission for at least 30% of patients. Given the activity of ICIs in advanced head and neck CSCC, ICIs are being studied in early-stage disease or neoadjuvant situations. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the innovative perioperative strategies in resectable disease and discuss novel immunotherapeutic strategies designed to overcome treatment resistance. In conclusion, neoadjuvant ICIs have demonstrated impressive response rates with unclear survival benefit. The effectiveness of adjuvant ICIs is currently being explored. Emerging biomarkers, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), will be crucial for optimizing patient selection and improving treatment outcomes.