Clinical Trialist
Dr. med. Sophia Kreft
Department of Dermatology
Research Focus: Evaluation of clinico-pathological biomarkers to guide treatment de-escalation strategies in unresectable, locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Contact: Sophia.Kreft@unimedizin-ffm.de
Evaluation of clinico-pathological biomarkers to guide treatment de-escalation strategies in unresectable, locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
The optimal duration of anti-PD1 blockade required to achieve durable benefit remains unclear. While treatment is typically continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, durable responses have also been reported following short-course immunotherapy.
In neoadjuvant studies of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and other tumour entities, pathological response has emerged as a strong surrogate marker for long-term outcomes. Tumour biopsies may therefore help identify patients who can safely discontinue therapy earlier, potentially reducing long-term toxicity, lowering healthcare costs, and improving quality of life.
Dr. Sophia Kreft's project focuses on evaluating pathological response as a potential biomarker to guide response-adapted treatment de-escalation. The aim is to determine whether patients who achieve a strong pathological response can safely discontinue therapy earlier without compromising long-term outcomes. Kreft is developing an investigator-initiated feasibility trial designed to assess whether a pathological-response–adapted discontinuation strategy can be effectively and safely implemented in clinical practice.
