Tracheal cancer
ICD-10 C33 · ICD-11 2C24

Treatment of Advanced Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Trachea When Radical Treatment Is Not an Option

Squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) is the predominant histological subtype of primary tracheal malignancies. When the disease has reached an advanced stage and the patient cannot undergo radical treatment, a structured systemic approach is required.

Clinical Scenario

Advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the trachea in a patient who is not a candidate for radical treatment (surgery or definitive radiotherapy). This histological subtype is most commonly seen in smokers and men over 60 years of age.

Ineligibility for radical treatment shifts the therapeutic goal toward systemic palliation, requiring careful patient selection to identify the strategy most likely to confer benefit.

Treatment Approach — Partial Overview

For appropriately selected patients, an immunotherapy-based strategy involving immune checkpoint inhibition may be considered as the primary systemic approach. Eligibility is guided by specific tumour characteristics determined at diagnosis.

The complete evidence-based regimen — including full eligibility criteria, agent selection, and clinical sequencing — is available in the structured protocol below.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens
References

DOI: 10.3389/or.2024.1451247

Squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant histology of primary tracheal carcinomas, typical of smokers and men over 60 years of age.

Taking into consideration clinical and histological premises, as well as data from case reports, it appears that the use of immunotherapy may be a beneficial therapeutic option for patients with advanced tracheal SCC who exhibit PD-L1 expression [V, B].

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