New shot shrinks skin cancer before surgery, early study shows promise
NCT ID NCT03889912
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early study tested a drug called cemiplimab, which helps the immune system attack cancer cells. The drug was injected directly into skin tumors (squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma) for 3 to 12 weeks before planned surgery. The main goal was to check safety and find the right dose. The study involved 97 people and looked at how well the drug shrank the tumor before it was removed.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cemiplimab (a drug that helps the immune system fight cancer)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a less invasive way to shrink skin cancers before surgery, potentially reducing the extent of surgery needed.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early phase 1 trial focused on safety, so effectiveness is not yet proven. Side effects, including injection reactions, are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Alfred Health
Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
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Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches
Delray Beach, Florida, 33445, United States
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Duke Cancer Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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Erasmus MC
Rotterdam, 3015 GD, Netherlands
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Fremantle Dermatology
Fremantle, Western Australia, 6160, Australia
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Inova Schar Cancer Institute
Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
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Maastricht University Medical Center
Maastricht, Limburg, 6202 AZ, Netherlands
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Medical Dermatology Specialists
Phoenix, Arizona, 85006, United States
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MetroDerm
Atlanta, Georgia, 30342, United States
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Northeast Dermatology Associates
Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915, United States
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
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Princess Alexandra Hospital
Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
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Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, Gelderland, 6500 HB, Netherlands
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Rochester Dermatologic Surgery, P.C.
Victor, New York, 14564, United States
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TCR Medical Corporation
San Diego, California, 92123, United States
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The Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Amsterdam, North Holland, 1066 CX, Netherlands
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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen
Groningen, 9700 RB, Netherlands
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Botox before the knife: could a Pre-Surgery injection lead to Better-Looking scars?
- Could a lighter immunotherapy schedule keep advanced cancers in check?
- Immunotherapy before surgery may cut skin cancer recurrence
- New skin patch could speed recovery after skin cancer removal
- AI reads skin lesions to predict cancer aggressiveness
- Scientists map metabolic shifts in skin cancer development