Re-introducing the same chemotherapy after exposure to anti-PD-1 therapy

Abstract

Cytotoxic chemotherapy after exposure to nivolumab (nivo), an anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibody, has been associated with good response compared with historical data in various cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In a previous report, different chemotherapy regimens were used before and after treatment with nivo. This HNSCC case is the first report of a good response when the same cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen was used before and after nivo. In addition, the efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody after nivo treatment may be better than without exposure to nivo.