Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Managing Advanced Disease in the Era of Immunotherapy

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Managing Advanced Disease in the Era of Immunotherapy is organized by Rockpointe Corporation.

Release date: June 30, 2019
Expiration date: June 30, 2020

Accreditation:
USF Health designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Overview:
Most cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a common cancer, are recognized early and treated successfully with surgery. A small percentage of patients develop advanced or metastatic disease, in which case data to guide treatments are sparse and management depends on a patient’s level of disability and comorbidities. Because patients with de novo or post-surgical advanced or metastatic cSCC are rare, oncologists aren’t always acquainted with pathophysiology, recommendations for diagnostic evaluations, disease staging, management strategies, or agents in clinical trials. Research is contributing to a greater understanding of tumor molecular markers (e.g. overexpression of EGFR) and the role of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway, and has led to the use of targeted agents and the first FDA-approved agent (a PD-1 inhibitor) to treat advanced and metastatic cSCC.

This activity will help clinicians recognize and thoroughly evaluate and stage patients with cSCC who are at high risk of advanced or metastatic disease. Participants should then be able to use this information, in conjunction with expert recommendations and the multidisciplinary team, to develop treatment plans. Up-to-date knowledge of cSCC pathophysiology, including the role of mutations, EGFR overexpression, and the immune system, will give clinicians an understanding of where newly approved and in-development agents fit in treatment strategies.

Educational Objectives:
This program is designed to address ACGME and NAM competencies, including delivering patient-centered care and practicing evidence-based medicine.
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to: 
• Outline the diagnostic evaluation of patients with cSCC
• Describe commonly used systems for staging cSCC
• Review the current understanding of the pathophysiology of advanced and metastatic cSCC
• Review current recommendations for developing individualized management plans for advanced and metastatic cSCC, including the need for a multidisciplinary team
• Describe the efficacy and safety of immune-targeted agents newly approved for the management of cSCC