Reporting from the ESMO Congress 2021, Paolo Bossi provides an overview of important results related to the potential benefits of immunotherapy in head and neck cancer. First he discusses the results of the GORTEC-REACH trial in locally advanced SCCHN testing avelumab-cetuximab-radiotherapy, and the KEYNOTE-122 study in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma testing pembrolizumab.
He then explains the results of a retrospective analysis designed to identify the genomic profile determining the best response to immunotherapy. Among possible reasons for unconclusive results is the need for patients selection based on biomarkers. He also suggests a possible role of maintenance immunotherapy after radiotherapy.
Abstracts:
- LBA35 - Avelumab-cetuximab-radiotherapy versus standards of care in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (LA-SCCHN): first analysis of randomized phase III GORTEC-REACH trial - Prof Jean Bourhis, CH
- 858O - Results of KEYNOTE-122: a phase 3 study of pembrolizumab (pembro) monotherapy vs chemotherapy (chemo) for platinum-pretreated, recurrent or metastatic (R/M) nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) - Prof Anthony T.C. Chan, HK
- 862MO - Gene expression profile differentiates short- and long-term survivors with immunotherapy in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer - Dr Paolo Bossi, IT
This video was supported with educational grants from Novartis and Roche.
The study results covered, and the presenter of this expert video, have been selected exclusively by ESMO.