Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37338146›Full record

ArticleActa dermato-venereologica2023

Variable Outcome of Immunotherapy in Advanced Multiple Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Two Patients with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Laura Trefzer, Maria E Hess, Lena Scholten, Kristin Technau-Hafsi, Frank Meiss, Melanie Boerries, Cristina Has, David Rafei-Shamsabadi

Open access · goldAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Acta dermato-venereologica, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. The tumor microenvironment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk patient groups: A scoping review.JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Laura TrefzerDepartment of Dermatology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Maria E HessInstitute of Medical Bioinformatics and System Medicine, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Lena ScholtenDepartment of Dermatology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Kristin Technau-HafsiDepartment of Dermatology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Frank MeissDepartment of Dermatology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Melanie BoerriesInstitute of Medical Bioinformatics and System Medicine, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Cristina HasDepartment of Dermatology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany. cristina.has@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
David Rafei-ShamsabadiDepartment of Dermatology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
University Medical Center Freiburg · DEUniversity of Freiburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a major complication of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) that has high morbidity and mortality rates and unmet therapeutic needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the molecular pattern of cSCC and the clinical course of immunotherapy in 2 RDEB patients with multiple advanced cSCC. Clinical course and disease staging were evaluated retrospectively. The tumour tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining. DNA from the blood and cSCC samples was subjected to massive parallel sequencing, and somatic mutations were determined. Patient 1 survived for over 2 years as disease control was achieved with cemiplimab and intralesional interleukin-2. The target advanced cSCC demonstrated a high rate of somatic mutations and strong expression of the immune markers, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, programmed cell death protein ligand 1, and lymphocyte-activation gene 3. The patient ultimately succumbed to complications of oesophageal carcinoma. Patient 2 had an undifferentiated cSCC on the foot, which displayed a low mutational burden and did not express immune markers. The tumour progressed quickly even with cemiplimab therapy. These 2 cases underscore the challenges of cSCC treatment for RDEB. Multiple tumours with different molecular and immune profiles occur concomitantly or sequentially, and surgical excision is not always possible because of the anatomical and tissue constraints imposed by the disease itself. In conclusion, programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitors are approved and effective in treating metastatic and locally advanced cSCC. Our experience and the literature suggest that cemiplimab is an option in patients with RDEB if surgery is not. Somatic mutations and the immune microenvironment should be characterized to predict therapeutic response, particularly in aggressive undifferentiated tumours.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellEpidermolysis Bullosa DystrophicaSkin NeoplasmsDisease ProgressionHumansImmunotherapyRetrospective StudiesTumor Microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID37338146
PMCPMC10292046
OpenAlexW4381309813

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.