Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Prognosis After Discontinued Treatment due to Immune-Related Adverse Events in Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck
Hiromasa Ishihara1, Yuki Asahi1, Masashi Kuroki1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Background:
The prognostic impact of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-HNSCC) remains unclear, particularly after treatment discontinuation.
Methods:
This retrospective study included RM-HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab. The association between irAEs, treatment response, and prognosis was analyzed. To minimize immortal time bias, survival was assessed at multiple time points. Outcomes after permanent discontinuation due to irAEs were also evaluated.
Results:
Among 92 cases, 25 cases (27.2%) experienced irAEs. Cases that experienced irAEs showed better progression-free survival than those who did not experience irAEs. Eight cases permanently discontinued treatment due to irAEs, and six cases maintained tumor shrinkage after discontinuing ICI.
Conclusions:
In this study, irAEs were associated with a good prognosis. Furthermore, it was revealed that many of the cases in which treatment was permanently discontinued due to irAEs continued a durable response even after treatment ended.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy