HEAD & NECK CANCERS

A novel approach has been developed by researchers at the University of Michigan to treating patients with advanced laryngeal cancer with the hope of improving historical survival rates of 50% to 60% in this setting.

Results of an initial study of tumors from patients with lung cancer or head and neck cancer suggest that acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitors may be due to the elimination of certain genetic mutations needed to enable the immune system to recognize and attack malignant cells.

Anti-CD22 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy induced an 80% complete remission rate among children and young adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Gregory W. Randolph, MD, director, General and Thyroid Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the future of thyroid cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy has potential in anaplastic thyroid cancer, but it presents a challenge because of the length of time it takes to have an effect. Maria Cabanillas, MD, discusses an upcoming clinical trial that is combining immunotherapy with targeted therapy, that may offer a solution.

The FDA has approved the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab as a treatment for patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck following progression on platinum-based therapy.

James Allison, PhD, discusses exciting advancements in immunotherapy combinations, the potential synergistic effects of radiation with immunotherapies, and considerations that must be made when combining other agents with immunotherapy.

William Cance, MD, has recently joined the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) as Deputy Director.

An expert discusses the potential role for immunotherapy in frontline head and neck cancer, as well as the possible benefit of using it in combination with standard treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy.

Adding a Toll-like receptor 8 agonist (TLR8) to standard care for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) failed to improve progression-free survival (PFS).

Patients with head and neck cancer whose disease is associated with <em>KRAS</em> variant had significantly better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when treated with the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (Erbitux), according to findings of a retrospective analysis of a randomized trial.

The FDA-approved fixed dose of 200 mg of pembrolizumab administered once every 3 weeks yielded durable responses in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), according to results from an expansion cohort of the phase Ib KEYNOTE-012 trial.

Barbara Ann Burtness, MD, professor of medicine, Clinical Research Program Leader, Head and Neck Cancers Program and Co-Director, Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Yale Cancer Center, discusses the ongoing trials looking at immunotherapy as a first-line treatment in head and neck cancer.

The FDA approval of pembrolizumab as a treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in August 2016 was extremely significant for this patient population, which previously had limited options following progression on a platinum-based chemotherapy.

The FDA has approved the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab as a second-line therapy for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma for those who have progression on a platinum chemotherapy.&nbsp;

Although paradigms for treating older patients with head and neck cancer are not well defined, advancements in targeted and immunotherapies and less toxic radiation regimens suggest that physicians can aim for a more individualized approach to treating this patient population.

The FDA has agreed to review nivolumab under an accelerated timeframe for its potential as a treatment for patients with previously treated metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Review of the currently available and approved therapeutic agents for the management of metastatic squamous cell NSCLC and clinical trials focusing on targeted therapy.

Given the lack of treatment options for patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the need for novel therapies is dire.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is an immunosuppressive disease, as its patients often demonstrate immune dysregulation that correlates with poorer outcomes. Trials are underway combining chemoradiotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), when studied in 2 clinical trials for the treatment of patients with pretreated recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 18%, according to findings presented at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Infusion with 19-28z chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T-cells led to complete response (CR) rates of 77% to 90% and minimal residual disease (MRD)-CR rates of 68% to 70% in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL).

Nivolumab (Opdivo) monotherapy showed improved overall survival (OS) and objective response rates for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) compared with the investigator's choice of alternative therapy, according to data presented at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Neratinib, an experimental TKI being developed for breast cancer, achieved a 36% clinical benefit rate in a phase II trial, according to a poster presented June 5, 2016 at the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Since its first FDA approval in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in 2006, cetuximab (Erbitux) has helped oncologists make significant strides in treating patients with the disease.

Sue Naeyaert, senior director of Biosimilars Policy, EMD Serono, discusses the long-term impact that biosimilars could potentially have on the field of oncology.

Nivolumab (Opdivo) has been granted a breakthrough therapy by the FDA as a treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) following a platinum-based therapy.

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as a treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) following a platinum-based chemotherapy, according to a statement from Merck, the company developing the PD-1 inhibitor.

The combination of pazopanib (Votrient) and cetuximab (Erbitux) showed a disease control rate of 77% in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to induction chemotherapy and hyperfractionated or accelerated chemoradiation therapy produced long-term control for patients with HPV-, locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with a poor prognosis.