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Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
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Factors Affecting Nivolumab Therapy Outcome in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Single-Center Analysis

Yoh-Ichiro Iwasa1, Yoh Yokota1, Ryosuke Kitoh1

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

Oncology
|January 18, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Nivolumab showed effectiveness in treating recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers (RM-HNCs). Performance status and a decreasing neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are key indicators for better outcomes in patients receiving nivolumab therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Head and Neck Cancer Research

Background:

  • Nivolumab, a PD-1 antibody, is an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
  • Approved in Japan for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers (RM-HNCs) post-platinum therapy.
  • Real-world effectiveness and safety data in Japanese RM-HNCs are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Evaluate nivolumab effectiveness and safety in Japanese RM-HNCs.
  • Identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes.
  • Assess real-world data in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 46 RM-HNC patients treated with nivolumab.
  • Data collected from April 2017 to April 2021 at Shinshu University Hospital.
  • Analysis of overall response rate, progression-free survival (PFS1, PFS2), and overall survival (OS).

Main Results:

  • Overall response rate: 17.4%; Disease control rate: 41.3%.
  • Median PFS1: 2.6 months; Median PFS2: 10.3 months.
  • Median OS: 14.8 months. Performance status (PS) and decreased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) correlated with better OS and PFS2.

Conclusions:

  • This study reports the first PFS2 data for nivolumab in RM-HNCs.
  • Longer PFS2 may contribute to prolonged OS.
  • PS and decreased NLR are proposed as valuable clinical prognostic markers for nivolumab therapy.
Keywords:
Immune checkpoint inhibitorNeutrophil-lymphocyte ratioPlatinum-refractory head and neck cancerProgrammed death-ligand 1Progression-free survival

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