Libtayo (cemiplimab) treatment for SCC...any comments?

Have had multiple squamous cell cancers removed through the years. Recently though my MOS surgeon discovered and removed an aggressive squamous cell on the top front of my head. It was the size of a racketball and I
needed a plastic surgeon to close the wound. It was deep to the skull but not any further. I had 20 radiation treatments and am now on my 6th Libtayo treatment. I broke out in a rash all over my body. I was put on a Triamcinolone Acetonide cream 2x a day. It helped. After a month it removed most of it. I also showed elevated Creatinine and BUN. I have had kidney stones so we are still trying to determine whether it is from Libtayo.

November 2023 diagnosed with CCSC on my legs which metastasized to my lymph nodes in my left groin. My local oncologist started Libtayo infusions a month later. It worked very well for about five months. I broke out in a severe rash on my entire back and down both arms. Oncologist stopped infusions and prescribed 80mg prednisone. I made an appointment at Mayo. My body was toxic; killing not only the cancer cells but good cells. I developed colitis and A-fib. That lead to severe dehydration which lead to a 4-day hospital stay. Taking the Libtayo did clear the cancer on my legs and shrunk the tumor in my groin. I had followups at Mayo every three months. In June 2025 the tumor started to produce a higher cancerous activity count and grow in size. At that point, surgery was the decision made to remove the 5 lymph nodes. It’s been a difficult time with lymphedema of the leg.

Hang in. that’s all we have. Advances are being made all the time.

I posted my last update in June 2025. Still on Libtayo every 3 weeks, PET every 3 months and Signatera test every other month. My last PET in Nov. showed some new activity in an adjacent neck lymph node so we did the interventional ablation, stuck a needle into the bad node and filled w/ethanol. That was 12/31 and my following Libtayo treatment they took blood for Signatera test. Before it had gone up to 5 causing me to want the ablation but now latest reading it went up to almost 10. I'm really disappointed that this ablation didn't work and the last one did. I return this week for my next infusion and meeting w/oncologist. Trying to remain optimistic but its been 2 yrs of back and forth. Still, I'm tolerating Libtayo with no problems and my life quality is excellent. Just hope I can keep it at bay so I don't have to do chemo or surgery...

@drpeter I've updated in this thread if you scroll thru

@louisejewell I have similar things going on. Reoccurring SCC to head and neck. A year ago had an aggressive Squamous Cell cancer removed from the top of my head. Deep and large. Needed plastic surgery to close the wound. 4 weeks radiation. On my 7 th Libtayo infusion. Not many side affects. Had a skin rash breakout all over mostly back. Been treated with steroid cream. Bearable but itchy at times. I’m 77 and feel like you do. Afraid of another big MOS surgery. I get monitored and infused every 3 weeks and MRIs every 6 months. Fatigue but bearable. Hang in there. Don’t sweat the infusion it is monitored.

@bosco702: From what I've read, Libatyo has been highly effective in treating SCC. How often are you receiving the infusions and what is the projected duration of treatment?

@grammato3 receiving 12 or 14 treatments . every 3 weeks. Had my 7 th

I've been posting my recent success on other threads but have been on this one since I started 2 yrs ago with Libtayo. This past month my Signatera numbers went up from 1.74 to 10 and then 2 months later to 30. PET lit up in my chest node and we talked about switching to cetuximab which I have feared due to stronger side effects. Then my last PET was completely clear and my ctDNA went to 1.14...go figure. After 22 months of Libtayo and no new SCC skin breakouts. So now my oncologist is allowing me to do 6 week double dose Libtayo and continued Signatera and PET monitoring. Fingers crossed this is it but I know that it could resurface. Just nice to have a 4 hour drive break for treatment.

@louisejewell Let me see if I'm understanding you correctly: the Signatera value (which is a lab test some providers use in conjunction with other tests as an early marker of metastasis) had risen just before imaging showed possible mets in your chest? But before switching to cetuximab - a stronger chemotherapeutic agent - everything returned to normal range and you've not had any further squamous cell lesions; is that correct?

That's great that you can proceed with increased dosage and less commuting. Keep us posted on how the surveillance goes from here out!