CLL & accelerated Squamous Cell Carcinoma

[JenniferHart]

My husband has untreated CLL and is now being treated for a second squamous cell carinmona (SCC) ie. skin cancer. I've just read a study published in the British Journal of Cancer (August 2024) that looked at the possible role of CLL in accelerating SCC development due to receptor tyrosine kinase AXL secretion (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/388.... A lot of long words - but the theory is that AXL inhibiters could thus possibly could play a role in slowing down SCC development in those with CLL.

My husband's haematologist is treating the CLL and skin cancer separately, telling us that treating the CLL will have no impact on the progression of the skin cancer.

My question is - is anyone else experiencing the same the thing, and if so, are their doctors prescribing any treatments (perhaps AXL inhibitors) to slow down SCC development.

Thanks for any replies.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi JenniferHart,

These may not answer your specific question, but you may find some useful information by looking for the box on this page labeled: "Related Posts

*Another metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma

*Squamous cell skin cancer surgery and CLL

*Treatment for Squamous Cell Carcinoma in CLL Patient?

*Aggressive skin cancer (SCC) and CLL

*Squamous Cell cancer - final update"

Len

[JenniferHart in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you - I’ve found those posts and they’re very helpful.

[ArtistBlacksmith]

I can't answer your question driectly, but skin cancer is common amongst CLL patients, typically about 700% more likely to develop BCC and SCC than the ordinary populatioin.

[JenniferHart in reply to ArtistBlacksmith]

Thank you, I didn’t know how much higher the risk is.

[ErieSailor]

Thanks for your post. I’m in the USA and haven’t heard of any treatments like what you mention. I have had 4 MOHs surgeries for Squamous skin cancer over about 10 years. 2 before I had CLL and 2 after. Am in W&W

[JenniferHart in reply to ErieSailor]

Thank you - good to know that more than one is common.

[phd1114]

Just food for thought...one of the side effects of Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, etc. is skin cancer as well. So not only is CLL potentially causing skin cancer, but also the current BTK inhibitors for CLL treatment seem to be too. Would love to hear more about the AXL inhibitors.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to phd1114]

Skin cancer is not so much a side effect of BTK inhibitors, it's just that the hope that the risk of skin cancers when we have CLL, would be less with BTKis, than with chemoimmunotherapy. I understand that the underlying problem is how CLL suppresses T cell surveillance for incipient cancer cells.

Neil

[phd1114 in reply to AussieNeil]

I'm was just basing my response on the Calquence (Acalabrutinib) package insert, which specifically indicates secondary primary cancers, including skin cancers, as a possible side effect of its use, as well as the warning from my CLL specialist and oncologist about ensuring strict skin checks while on Acalabrutinib because of this possibility. Obviously it's hard to say whether it's the chicken or the egg, only that it is a reported side effect.

[JenniferHart in reply to phd1114]

As my husband is on w&w I didn’t know this - thanks for flagging as I’ve seen a common treatment pathway after radio (if it doesn’t work) is to go onto immunotherapies.

[JudyB54]

I had my 3rd SSC diagnosis in a year in November of 2024. Thank you for your question and article. I will discuss with my hematologist when I see her next month.

[JenniferHart in reply to JudyB54]

I’d be interested to know what your haematologist says - as from what I can see ongoing AXL inhibitor trials are ongoing in a number of cancers, but not CCL or SCC. The paper in the British Journal of Cancer was putting forward a recommendation for further investigation.

[Astro617]

I appreciate this post. I am in watch and wait for 19+ years. I've just had my third squamous cell cancer removed.