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Novel immune-modulating drugs for advanced head and neck cancer

Tien-Hua Chen1, Peter M-H Chang1,2, Muh-Hwa Yang1,3

  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Head & Neck
|October 2, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Novel immunomodulatory agents show promise for head and neck cancer treatment. These agents, including small molecules and vaccines, demonstrated treatment responses, offering new hope beyond current therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Approved anti-PD-1 therapies (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) offer limited efficacy for head and neck cancer post-chemotherapy.
  • Significant unmet clinical need exists for improved head and neck cancer treatments.
  • Novel immunomodulatory agents are under active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review immunological mechanisms of immunomodulatory agents in head and neck cancer.
  • To summarize early-phase clinical trial outcomes of these agents.
  • To assess the potential of novel agents for head and neck cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of publications from 1992-2019.
  • Focused on immunomodulatory agents for head and neck cancer.
  • Included small molecules, antibodies, and therapeutic vaccines.

Main Results:

  • Eleven immunomodulatory agents were identified for advanced head and neck cancer.
  • Treatment responses observed with nearly all agents as monotherapy or combination therapy.
  • Agents showed potential for improving treatment efficacy and safety.

Conclusions:

  • Novel immunomodulatory agents demonstrate potential to enhance head and neck cancer treatment efficacy.
  • These agents may offer a tolerable safety profile.
  • Further development is warranted to address limitations of current therapies.
Keywords:
head and neck cancerimmunotherapy

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