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Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Real-world Setting in Japan

Tomomi Manako1, Ryuji Yasumatsu2, Takafumi Nakano3

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

In Vivo (Athens, Greece)
|March 7, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show effectiveness and good tolerability in treating recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in real-world settings. EBER-positive cases demonstrated improved outcomes with ICIs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Head and Neck Cancer Research

Background:

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment but have limited data in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  • Real-world outcomes of ICI therapy for recurrent or metastatic NPC require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ICI monotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC.
  • To explore the correlation between clinicopathological factors, immune-related adverse events, and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 23 patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab.
  • Data collected from April 2017 to July 2021 across six institutions.
  • Analysis of clinicopathological factors and immune-related adverse events.

Main Results:

  • Objective response rate of 39.1% and disease control rate of 78.3%.
  • Median progression-free survival of 16.8 months; overall survival not reached.
  • Higher efficacy and better prognosis observed in Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER)-positive NPC cases.
  • Low rate (4.3%) of significant immune-related adverse events requiring treatment discontinuation.

Conclusions:

  • ICI monotherapy, including nivolumab and pembrolizumab, is an effective and tolerable treatment option for recurrent or metastatic NPC in real-world practice.
  • EBER status may predict treatment response and prognosis in NPC patients receiving ICIs.
Keywords:
Immune checkpoint inhibitornasopharyngeal carcinomanivolumabpembrolizumabreal-world data

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