Panitumumab (Vectibix®) in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignancies in caucasian population. The effect of the immune system on the development of skin tumors has been demonstrated in transplant patients taking immunosuppressive agents (65 fold risk increase). It has been reported that activation of EGFR and RAS signaling pathways play an important role in disease progression maybe through downregulation of the immune system. The investigators want to treat unresectable SCC patients with an antibody against EGFR (Vectibix®, panitumumab). This antibody induces tumor regression in metastatic colorectal cancer and has been approved as single agent for this indication. The investigators want to measure the response rate but also analyze the modification of expression profile of some key proteins involved or supposed to be involved in the signaling pathways of EGFR and in the regulation of the immune system. Chemokines such as CCL27 have been shown to play a critical role in the skin-associated immune response by regulating T cell homing. Pivarcsi et al have reported that downregulation of CCL27 is mediated by activation of EGFR/RAS/MAPK signaling pathways.