Study summary

Cemiplimab shrank advanced skin cancers in about half of patients, with lasting responses

EMPOWER-CSCC-1 long-term results · 193 people (main groups), phase 2 · Published September 2024, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

47.2%response rate

What was tested

Cemiplimab for advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma not suitable for surgery or radiation.

What they found

Response rate was 47.2% at about 3.5 years of follow-up.
An estimated 88.3% of responses lasted at least 12 months; median progression-free survival was 26.0 months.

What it means

Established immunotherapy as the first treatment for advanced disease.

J Am Acad Dermatol, via PubMed ↗ ← Back to the outlook

Last reviewed 2026-11-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.