A case of kidney transplant rejection secondary to cemiplimab for recurrent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

We report a case involving a 71-year-old male with a history of kidney transplant on immunosuppressive therapy and non-melanoma skin cancers who developed persistent lesions on the cheek and forehead after multiple skin cancer treatments. Biopsies identified poorly differentiated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent excisional salvage therapy with flap reconstruction, complicated by infection requiring debridement. He subsequently presented with in-transit dermal metastases and began treatment with cemiplimab. Unfortunately, after two cycles, he faced graft rejection and transitioned to hemodialysis. A recent PET-CT revealed no evaluable disease, and there were no clinical signs of recurrence at his last follow-up.

Keywords: Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Graft Rejection; Kidney Diseases.