Real-world Data of Palliative First-line Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Head and Neck Cancer

Background:

• Pembrolizumab is approved for PD-L1-positive recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
• Real-world data on immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy in unselected SCCHN patients are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CPI therapy in an unselected cohort of patients with SCCHN.
• To assess CPI therapy as a palliative first-line systemic treatment for recurrent or metastatic SCCHN.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 78 patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN from three Austrian cancer centers.
• Patients received CPI therapy alone or with chemotherapy (platinum and 5-FU).
• Chart-based review of patient characteristics, treatment details, and survival outcomes.

Main Results:

• Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4 months; median overall survival (OS) was 11 months.
• Overall response rate was 20.5%; disease control rate was 46.1%.
• No significant difference in outcomes based on Combined Positive Score (CPS); immune-related adverse events were comparable to existing data.

Conclusions:

• CPI therapy, alone or with chemotherapy, is effective in recurrent or metastatic CPS-positive SCCHN.
• Findings support the efficacy of CPI in an unselected SCCHN patient population.
• Real-world data align with KEYNOTE-048 trial results.