Molecular Horizons Seminar - Ben Genenger, PhD Exit Seminar

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer and is a disease with globally rising incidence. Approximately 3–5% of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma develop advanced disease, accounting for roughly 1% of all cancer deaths in Australia. One of the only effective systemic treatment options for advanced cSCC is immunotherapy. However, the current understanding of factors determining response to immunotherapy is limited and there is a significant pool of patients that does not respond to immunotherapy or is ineligible. For these patients, it is paramount that we continue to develop in vitro models that better recapitulate the human tumor physiology in order to effectively develop novel therapeutic options. This presentation will explore the benefits and limitations of immunotherapy in patients with advanced cSCC, dive into a complex three-dimensional cell culture model, and look into a novel drug combination approach.