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[Head and neck cancer : promising results of immunotherapy]

Aurélie Sivade1, Djamila Bensaid1, Yan Monnier2

  • 1Service d'oncologie médicale, Département d'oncologie, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.

Revue Medicale Suisse
|June 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Immunotherapy with PD1 inhibitors shows promise for head and neck cancers. A recent study found improved survival for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with nivolumab.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Immunotherapy, particularly checkpoint inhibitors like anti-PD1 and anti-PDL1 antibodies, has transformed cancer treatment for melanoma, lung cancer, renal cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Preliminary research indicates promising results for immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other regional malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and high-grade salivary gland carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of PD1 inhibitors in treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  • To assess the impact of PD1 inhibition on overall survival in patients with advanced HNSCC.

Main Methods:

  • A phase 3 clinical study was conducted.
  • Patients with platin-resistant recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC were treated with the PD1 inhibitor nivolumab.

Main Results:

  • The PD1 inhibitor nivolumab demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival.
  • The study focused on patients with platin-resistant, recurrent, and/or metastatic HNSCC.

Conclusions:

  • Nivolumab, a PD1 inhibitor, offers a significant survival benefit for patients with advanced HNSCC.
  • Immunotherapy represents a promising treatment avenue for head and neck cancers, aligning with its success in other malignancies.

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