Induction Chemoimmunotherapy Followed by Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The majority of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage, often necessitating standard treatments such as surgery or concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

This was a real-world study conducted between January 2021 and October 2024. The study enrolled 42 previously untreated patients diagnosed with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Patients received induction chemotherapy (IC) with or without immunotherapy followed by radiotherapy at our hospital.

The group receiving immunotherapy with IC (I+IC, N=26) demonstrated an 82.6% objective response rate (ORR) and a 92.3% disease control rate (DCR). In contrast, patients treated with IC (N=16) alone exhibited an ORR of 37.5% and a DCR of 93.8%. With a median follow-up of 28.9 months, the I+IC group showed a 100% 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) and an 88.5% 12-month PFS, with a 92.3% overall survival (OS) rate at 12 months.

This real-world study suggests that the addition of immunotherapy to IC holds promise for improving treatment outcomes in locally advanced HNSCC. The findings underscore the need for further research involving a larger patient population to validate these preliminary results.