Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Submandibular Region after Surgery in a Dog: A Case Report

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumor that has been reported in several organs of different dog breeds. An 8-year-old Shih Tzu, an intact male dog, came to an animal clinic in the Thonburi area, Bangkok Province, Thailand, and a mass of 4.5 × 4.5 cm (width × length) by size was found at the submandibular area. Surgical excision to remove the mass and subsequent histological examination identified the mass as SCC. After conducting the surgery and follow-up, the mass was recurrent at the same location after 33 days and a dog died. Therefore, one of the possible reasons for the death of the dog could be SCC metastasis.

Real-World Experience of Immunotherapy from India in Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck Cancer

Background Recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients carry a poor prognosis and have limited therapeutic options. In the randomized phase-3 trial CheckMate 141, nivolumab showed benefit in overall survival (OS) with manageable toxicity. Nivolumab is available for clinical practice since 2017 in India. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in real-world settings in India. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective, single-center study on the use of nivolumab with advanced or metastatic HNSCC in India. Eligible patients had histologically confirmed, recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (including metastatic disease) of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that was not amenable to curative treatment, tumor progression, or recurrence after the administration of platinum-containing chemotherapy administered as adjuvant therapy or in the context of primary or recurrent disease. We assessed demographics, safety (the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0), response evaluation (the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1), progression-free survival (PFS), and OS. Results Among patients with platinum-refractory, recurrent HNSCC, and treatment with nivolumab resulted in median PFS of 2 months and median OS of 5 months, which is inferior to what was seen in CheckMate 141. Fifteen of 20 patients (75%) had progressive disease, 3 (15%) showed a partial response, and 2 (10%) had stable disease. Conclusion Nivolumab was well tolerated in our study with fewer toxic effects, and an inferior median survival was reached as compared with CheckMate 141 in platinum refractory, recurrent HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab because 90% of patients in our study received nivolumab as second-line therapy after progression. Our study encourages the use of nivolumab in this population.

Addendum: Perri et al. Electrochemotherapy as a First Line Treatment in Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx PDL-1 Negative and/or with Evident Contraindication to Immunotherapy: A Randomized Multicenter Controlled Trial. Cancers 2021, 13, 2210

Comments: We have some additional considerations about the recent published article by Perri et al [...]

Current trends in the immunotherapy of metastatic and recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

The immune system plays a key role in the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Understanding the dysregulation and blockage of the immune system of malignant tumors in this location can improve treatment outcomes. A special group is made up of patients who have a widespread process and relapse after chemotherapy with platinum drugs, because they have a very poor prognosis and limitations in the possibilities of further treatment. To date, the most important data relate to drugs acting on the PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1)/PD-L1 (programmed death ligand 1) immune checkpoints, which are used by the tumor to block the immune system, which have allowed to increase the effectiveness of treatment. The article presents a clinical case demonstrating the effectiveness of the use of checkpoint inhibitors after the use of platinum preparations.