Head & Neck Cancer

Treatment with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer resulted in taste dysfunction during treatment and 3 months thereafter, although reduction in oral cavity intensity-modulated radiotherapy dose may result in early taste function recovery.

The phase 3 KEYNOTE-412 trial assessing pembrolizumab and consolidation chemoradiotherapy plus maintenance pembrolizumab in unresected locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma missed its primary end point of event-free survival improvement vs matched placebo.

Patients with low-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received 2 cycles of concurrent cisplatin plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy compared with 3 cycles had better survival and manageable toxicities.

After receipt of a complete response letter in May 2022, a biologics license application for toripalimab monotherapy in the second line or later following platinum chemotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy in the first-line setting for advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma was resubmitted to and accepted by the FDA.

Fast track designation was granted to PDS0101 plus pembrolizumab, which is currently being assessed in the phase 2 VERSATILE study in patients with recurrent or metastatic human papillomavirus 16–positive head and neck cancer.

Despite an increased risk of grade 5 toxicities, patients with human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who received primary transoral surgery and neck dissection vs radiotherapy experienced good swallowing outcomes at 1 year.

Tom Thomas, MD, highlights how the stigma surrounding human papillomavirus–associated head and neck cancer is being unraveled through education and the importance of vaccination as a prevention strategy.

Based on results of the phase 3 RATIONALE-309 trial, the China National Medical Products Administration has approved tislelizumab plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

Results of the phase 3 RATIONALE-309 trial demonstrate efficacy of tislelizumab added to chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Treatment with the oral VEGFR2 inhibitor rivoceranib appears to induce responses in recurrent or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma.

HPV-targeting immunotherapeutic PDS0101 in combination pembrolizumab may represent a new option for patients with HPV-positive recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Findings from the phase 3 ROMAN trial showed a significant reduction in severe oral mucositis with receipt of avasopasem manganese during chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced, nonmetastatic head and neck cancer.

Chemoradiotherapy plus cisplatin administered weekly was found to be non-inferior to cisplatin once every 3 weeks for patients with high-risk locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Plans to resubmit a biologics license application for toripalimab as treatment of advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma have been made for midsummer 2022 following receipt of a complete response letter from the FDA.

Patients with N0 to N1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received upper-neck radiation vs whole-neck radiation saw similar regional control with less radiation toxicity.

A qualitative analysis identified 4 themes that could be improved upon to help with symptom management in patients with head and neck cancer.

Investigators of the phase 3 RATIONALE-309 trial found an improvement in progression-free survival for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer treated with tislelizumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone.

Antitumor activity was noted for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer who were treated with pepinemab plus pembrolizumab.

Patients with human papillomavirus–associated oropharyngeal carcinoma who were given de-escalated doses of radiotherapy saw a better quality of life and favorable outcomes.

Investigators believe that neoadjuvant chemotherapy may play a role in mandibular prevention in patients with oral cavity cancer.

A significant progression-free survival benefit was observed with the use of capecitabine maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma vs best supportive care.

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who had progressive disease following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and a checkpoint inhibitor experienced promising safety and preliminary efficacy following treatment with tisotumab vedotin.

Patients with early stage glottic larynx carcinoma benefitted from treatment with tumor-focused stereotactic radiotherapy.

Research presented at the 2022 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium highlighted the potential to detect oropharyngeal cancer recurrence using circulating tumor tissue modified viral–human papillomavirus DNA.

A presentation from the 2022 ASTRO Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium showed a de-escalated radiotherapy dose to 54 Gy vs 70 Gy led to better measures of toxicity in those with p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.