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Updated: Jun 1, 2025

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Risk Factors for Progressive Disease After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell
Seo Yoon Jang1, Yun-Gyoo Lee2, Sang Hoon Chun3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
This study analyzed the clinical features of patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who developed progressive disease (PD) after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 256 patients with R/M HNSCC treated with ICIs at 11 medical centers. Associations between the treatment outcomes-best response, overall survival, and progression-free survival-and various clinical factors were analyzed.
Results:
The objective response rate was 19.5% and PD was observed in 50.4% of the patients. A high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR > 4; HR, 2.20 [1.28-3.78]) and large tumor size (sum of the target lesions > 40 mm; HR, 1.74 [1.03-2.94]) were significant risk factors for PD. High NLR (HR, 2.00 [1.42-2.82]), poor performance status (ECOG PS 2-3; HR, 3.51 [2.04-6.05]), and large tumor size (HR. 1.63 [1.19-2.24]) were independently associated with poor overall survival.
Conclusions:
Patients with high NLR and large tumor size are at higher risk of PD during ICI therapy.
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