Role of Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Immune system dysfunction plays a role in both the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), highlighting the potential role for immunotherapy to improve outcomes in this disease. The application of anti-PD-1 therapies for recurrent or metastatic HNSCC has found promising results. This has led to interest in combining immunotherapy with radiation therapy (RT) for the primary treatment of locally advanced HNSCC. RT with concurrent cetuximab is an option for patients who are medically unfit to receive cisplatin, and ongoing trials seek to determine to role of cetuximab-RT in treatment de-intensification for HPV+ oropharyngeal HNSCC.
Source: Seminars in Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research