SARASOTA, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2026) – Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common forms of skin cancer in the United States, affecting more than a million Americans each year. While most cases are found and treated at an early stage, larger and fast-growing lesions have a higher risk of coming back and spreading to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
In search of improved treatment outcomes, Sarasota Memorial’s Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute is part of an international clinical trial enrolling qualified patients with advanced stage squamous cell skin cancer, also called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). It is one of the most common types of skin cancer, often found in areas exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck and arms.
Treatment typically involves surgery, with radiation or chemotherapy if needed. The Phase III study is evaluating whether adding the immunotherapy drug cemiplimab before surgery results in better outcomes than the current standard of care.
“For people at high risk of the squamous cell carcinoma coming back, additional treatment with drugs that boost the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells, such as cemiplimab, may help lower the chances of the cancer recurring,” said Sarasota Memorial head and neck surgeon Peter Vosler, MD, PhD, FACS, principal investigator of the local study and member of Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute.
Immunotherapy can help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and the study drug cemiplimab improves the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy skin cancer cells, Dr. Vosler said. Cemiplimab has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of skin cancer that has spread or that cannot be removed by surgery, but has not yet been approved for the treatment of skin cancer before surgery. In previous studies, patients showed a positive response to this treatment approach, demonstrating promise for improving outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma.
An estimated 420 patients across more than 170 study sites worldwide will be enrolled in the trial. To be eligible, participants must be adults 18 or older with previously untreated or recurrent squamous cell skin cancer who are candidates for surgical resection. Other criteria and conditions apply. For more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate in the local study, contact Sarasota Memorial’s research team at (941) 917-2225 or researchinstitute@smh.com. For information about the international trial, click here.
About the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
Located on the flagship Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota campus, the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute serves as a premier hub for medical research and clinical innovation. With dedicated space for research, clinical innovation and graduate medical education, the Kolschowsky Institute provides a collaborative learning environment for physicians, nurses, researchers and students studying new treatments and mastering the latest tools and techniques in patient care. Through state-of-the-art simulation labs, hands-on training programs, and a robust portfolio of clinical studies, Sarasota Memorial and the Kolschowsky Institute play a vital role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of healthcare in the region.
For more information, click here.