Immune check point inhibitors for head and neck cancer and its proper management on utilizing head and neck cancer collaborative program

In head and neck cancer management, there is a need for tailored approaches to optimally implement clinical outcomes. Based on the assumption that efficacy and long-term toxicity are not satisfactory for standard concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy, several trials have been designed to test whether induction immunotherapy and/or concomitant immunotherapy and radiotherapy result in improved survival and toxicity outcomes. Here, we present an overview of the most recent concomitant therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancer, focusing on the knowledge available regarding check-point inhibitors. The aim is to present the characteristics of the main check-point inhibitors and to summarize the clinical trials on the combination of immune check-point inhibitors and (chemo)radiotherapy in the definitive HNC setting, in order to provide a useful clinical tool for further research.

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Immune check point inhibitors for head and neck cancer

Toukeibu Gan ◽

10.5981/jjhnc.44.336 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 336-341

Author(s):

Naomi Kiyota

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Check Point ◽

Check Point Inhibitors

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Therapeutic Approaches With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Head and Neck Cancers and the Role of PD-L1 as a Biomarker

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/10732748211004878 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 107327482110048

Author(s):

Karima Oualla ◽

Luis Castelo Branco ◽

Lamiae Nouiyakh ◽

Lamiae Amaadour ◽

Zineb Benbrahim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Head And Neck Carcinoma ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Phase Iii Clinical Trials ◽

Check Point Inhibitors

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a potential curative disease at its localized stage, by the use of multimodal treatment including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. While the metastatic stage is considered incurable and is characterized by poor prognosis. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy in addition to cetuximab were the only available systemic treatment with limited efficacy and modest median overall survival barely crossing the 1 year limit. Immunotherapy with PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of multiple cancers. Recently, Immunotherapy is being extensively explored in head and neck cancer and clinical trials have shown impressive results that allowed to immune check point inhibitors to be the new standard of care. In this article we tried to explain the rationale and mechanisms of targeting the immune system in head and neck carcinoma and to report the results from the phase III clinical trials that put the immunotherapy as a new standard of care for head and neck cancer.

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