Abstract
The dismal prognosis of recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) prompted recent advances in the field of therapeutic approaches beyond cytotoxic cancer therapy. In recent years, the deeper and increasing knowledge on the genomic landscape and the upcoming new data on immunotherapy enacted by HNSCCs have led to successful therapeutic targeting of the immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed state of the art in R/M patients and could have a potential role even in early disease. The purpose of this work is to summarize the role of immunotherapy for R/M HNSCC in clinical practice, with insights about future perspectives. Updated immunotherapy results in other R/M head and neck cancers such as thyroid, salivary glands, nasopharynx, sinonasal cancers, and nuclear protein in testis (NUT) are presented.
Highlights
Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies, including several histotypes, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most frequent
The most relevant are mucin domain 3 (TIM3) [49], tackled by the PD-1/TIM3 bispecific antibody RO7121661 [50] and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a well known immunosuppressive mediator [51], that is co-inhibited by bintrafusp alfa, an anti-TGF-β/anti-PD-1 agent that showed promising activity in HNSCC [52]; IL-2 [53] and fibroblast-activating protein (FAP) [54] are the targets of RO6874281, a bispecific cytokine acting on tumor-associated fibroblasts, that induced one durable response in one HNSCC patient included in a phase I study [55]
Since healthcare professionals devoted to HNC can face HNSCC, and these tumor types, the following sections will concentrate on the role of immunotherapy in thyroid cancer and in salivary gland, nasopharyngeal, and paranasal sinuses carcinomas
Summary
Immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and rare head and neck malignancies Stefano Cavalieri1,2†* , Daria Maria Filippini1† , Arianna Ottini , Cristiana Bergamini , Carlo Resteghini , Elena Colombo , Roberta Lombardo , Imperia Nuzzolese, Salvatore Alfieri , Lisa Licitra1,2 , Laura D.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
