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Cancers
Special Issues
Immunotherapy for Skin Cancers
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Immunotherapy for Skin Cancers

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2026 | Viewed by 2506

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Reinhard Dummer

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
2. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: dermato-oncology; skin malignancies; metastatic melanoma; dermatopathology; clinical research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lara Valeska Maul-Duwendag

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich Switzerland
Interests: dermato-oncology; prevention; early detection and treatment of melanoma; AI-assisted imaging techniques

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The incidence of skin cancer is steadily increasing worldwide, making it a severe global health concern. Immunotherapies have revolutionized the landscape of melanoma and, more recently, of non-melanoma skin cancers and other rare skin cancers, like Merkel cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma and cutaneous angiosarcoma. Treating advanced skin cancers remains a therapeutic challenge despite new treatments being available. There is a critical need to precisely select ideal patients using biomarkers to deepen the understanding of immune-related adverse events and to address the challenges of immune resistance.

This Special Issue will focus on recent advancements in the field of immunotherapy in different skin cancers and evaluate their future implications. The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant and palliative settings and the burden of disease and treatment need to be further investigated. We need to highlight the existing gaps in real-life benefits and explore potential strategies to enhance current immunotherapy approaches against advanced skin cancers.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Dummer
Dr. Lara Valeska Maul-Duwendag
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • melanoma
  • non-melanoma skin cancer
  • merkel cell carcinoma
  • kaposi sarcoma
  • cutaneous angi-osarcoma
  • immune checkpoint
  • immunotherapy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3365 KiB  
Article
A Retrospective Analysis of Ambiguous Spitz Tumors Using Next-Generation Sequencing
by Mario Teufer, Martin Theiler, Joana Lanz, Lisa Weibel, Ulrich Wagner, Mitchell P. Levesque, Jivko Kamarachev, Reinhard Dummer and Egle Ramelyte
Cancers 2025, 17(7), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17071227 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 740
Abstract
Background: Spitz tumors (STs) are a diverse group of melanocytic lesions that range from benign to malignant. STs pose significant classification challenges due to overlapping histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) features among the STs with different malignant potential. This study aimed to assess the [...] Read more.
Background: Spitz tumors (STs) are a diverse group of melanocytic lesions that range from benign to malignant. STs pose significant classification challenges due to overlapping histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) features among the STs with different malignant potential. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of a melanoma-specific next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel (MelArray) combined with IHC analysis to improve the assessment of diagnostically challenging ST cases. Methods: Patients with STs and available MelArray results were included in this retrospective analysis. Molecular analysis (genetic alterations, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and copy number variations (CNV)), clinical data (demographics and clinical course), and IHC data (scores for markers such as p16, Ki-67, HMB45, PRAME, and Melan A) were evaluated in conjunction and correlated with patient outcomes. Results: Atypical Spitz tumors (ASTs, n = 20) predominantly exhibited heterozygous deletions in melanoma-relevant genes, but these were not accompanied by the multiple damaging mutations commonly associated with melanoma. IHC scores were higher in ASTs compared to Spitz nevi (SN, n = 3), suggesting an intermediate biologic potential. SN exhibited minimal genetic alterations and low IHC scores, reflecting a benign profile. Genetic analysis of the Spitz melanoma (SM, n = 1) revealed a distinct molecular profile with damaging mutations affecting the key regulatory pathways involved in tumor progression, along with a high TMB, and an IHC score comparable to ASTs. During a median follow-up of 36 months (range: 6–48 months, n = 23), no recurrences, distant metastases, or tumor-related deaths were observed. Conclusions: The integration of NGS analysis with the MelArray panel, histology, and immunohistochemistry, enhances the diagnostic accuracy of challenging STs by identifying the genetic alterations linked to malignancy risk. This aids in the detection of high-risk lesions that need a more detailed work-up and more stringent follow-up, and those that will follow a benign course. Larger studies are needed to validate the clinical utility and broader applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy for Skin Cancers)
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12 pages, 987 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness and Toxicity of Cemiplimab Therapy for Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Skin Cancer in a Community Oncology Practice
by Tina Fung, Wolfram Samlowski and Raul Meoz
Cancers 2025, 17(5), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17050823 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1079
Abstract
Background: The immune checkpoint inhibitor cemiplimab has significant clinical activity in unresectable and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. There are limited real-world data available to assess the outcome of cemiplimab treatment in patients in a community practice setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective [...] Read more.
Background: The immune checkpoint inhibitor cemiplimab has significant clinical activity in unresectable and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. There are limited real-world data available to assess the outcome of cemiplimab treatment in patients in a community practice setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes following cemiplimab treatment (350 mg IV every 3 weeks) of squamous cell skin cancer. An exploratory analysis was performed to evaluate patient subsets, including patients with locally advanced disease, regional or distant metastases, and “too numerous to count” primaries. Another small group of patients who did not respond to the initial four doses of cemiplimab were evaluated following added radiotherapy. Results: Of the 36 patients treated, 22 (61.1%) achieved complete remission, 10 (27.8%) experienced a partial response, 3 (8.3%) had stable disease, and 1 (2.8%) developed progressive disease. The median progression-free survival for the entire cohort was over 33 months. Overall, cemiplimab was well-tolerated, with no hospitalizations due to treatment-related toxicity. Conclusions: Cemiplimab produced complete remissions in over 60% of patients with locally advanced and metastatic squamous cell skin cancers, allowing elective treatment discontinuation. Addition of radiotherapy in cemiplimab-refractory patients appeared to increase tumor responsiveness. In contrast, patients with TNTC primary tumors frequently develop new primary skin cancers. Thus, improved treatment options for this patient subset are still needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy for Skin Cancers)
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Review

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14 pages, 362 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Immunotherapy for Melanoma: Perspectives on the Development of Novel Treatments: A Mini Review
by Yusuke Muto, Taku Fujimura and Yoshihide Asano
Cancers 2025, 17(13), 2265; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17132265 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 238
Abstract
It has been more than a decade since anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies were first introduced for the treatment of unresectable melanoma. The advent of these immunotherapies has dramatically transformed the treatment landscape. In recent years, anti-PD-1 antibodies have become the cornerstone of melanoma [...] Read more.
It has been more than a decade since anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies were first introduced for the treatment of unresectable melanoma. The advent of these immunotherapies has dramatically transformed the treatment landscape. In recent years, anti-PD-1 antibodies have become the cornerstone of melanoma therapy, and the development of new treatment regimens has advanced rapidly in both Eastern and Western countries. However, clinical practice has revealed lower response rates in East Asian melanoma patients compared to Caucasian populations. This discrepancy may be partially attributed to T cell immune exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment, although the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, there is currently no established treatment for BRAF wild-type melanoma that is resistant to anti-PD-1 antibodies. This review discusses the currently available therapeutic strategies for advanced melanoma and addresses the aforementioned challenges, highlighting recent efforts in both Eastern and Western regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy for Skin Cancers)
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