A secondary analysis of a small phase 2 trial demonstrating pathologic responses (≤10% viable tumor cells) in three-quarters of patients receiving neoadjuvant cemiplimab x 2 cycles prior to resection of stage III/IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck asked if this is a meaningful surrogate for disease-free survival. It was. At a median follow-up just shy of 4 years, there were zero recurrences among the 15 responders and 3 local recurrences among the remaining 5 nonresponders. | Ferrarotto, JAMA Dermatol 2023
