Avelumab plus standard-of-care chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3 trial

Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy in the Era of Immunotherapy

Spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) includes historical grid therapy approaches but more recently encompasses the controlled introduction of one or more cold dose regions using intensity modulation delivery techniques. The driving hypothesis behind SFRT is that it may allow for an increased immune response that is otherwise suppressed by radiation effects. With both two- and three-dimensional SFRT approaches, SFRT dose distributions typically include multiple dose cold spots or valleys. Despite its unconventional methods, reported clinical experience shows that SFRT can sometimes induce marked tumor regressions, even in patients with large hypoxic tumors. Preclinical models using extreme dose distributions (i.e., half-sparing) have been shown to nevertheless result in full tumor eradications, a more robust immune response, and systemic anti-tumor immunity. SFRT takes advantage of the complementary immunomodulatory features of low- and high-dose radiotherapy to integrate the delivery of both into a single target. Clinical trials using three-dimensional SFRT (i.e., lattice-like dose distributions) have reported both promising tumor and toxicity results, and ongoing clinical trials are investigating synergy between SFRT and immunotherapies.

Radiotherapy and immunology

The majority of cancer patients receive radiotherapy during the course of treatment, delivered with curative intent for local tumor control or as part of a multimodality regimen aimed at eliminating distant metastasis. A major focus of research has been DNA damage; however, in the past two decades, emphasis has shifted to the important role the immune system plays in radiotherapy-induced anti-tumor effects. Radiotherapy reprograms the tumor microenvironment, triggering DNA and RNA sensing cascades that activate innate immunity and ultimately enhance adaptive immunity. In opposition, radiotherapy also induces suppression of anti-tumor immunity, including recruitment of regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and suppressive macrophages. The balance of pro- and anti-tumor immunity is regulated in part by radiotherapy-induced chemokines and cytokines. Microbiota can also influence radiotherapy outcomes and is under clinical investigation. Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and CTLA-4 has been extensively investigated in combination with radiotherapy; we include a review of clinical trials involving inhibition of these immune checkpoints and radiotherapy.

Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Followed By Response-Adaptive Therapy for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer: OPTIMA II Phase 2 Open-Label Nonrandomized Controlled Trial

Importance

Immune checkpoint inhibitors improve survival in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer, yet their role in curative human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+ OPC) remains undefined. Neoadjuvant nivolumab and chemotherapy followed by response-adaptive treatment in HPV+ OPC may increase efficacy while reducing toxicity.

Objective

To determine the deep response rate and tolerability of the addition of neoadjuvant nivolumab to chemotherapy followed by response-adapted locoregional therapy (LRT) in patients with HPV+ OPC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial conducted at a single academic center enrolled 77 patients with locoregionally advanced HPV+ OPC from 2017 to 2020. Data analyses were performed from February 10, 2021, to January 9, 2023.

Interventions

Addition of nivolumab to neoadjuvant nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin (studied in the first OPTIMA trial) followed by response-adapted LRT in patients with HPV+ OPC stages III to IV.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcome was deep response rate to neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy, defined as the proportion of tumors with 50% or greater shrinkage per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. Secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Swallowing function, quality of life, and tissue- and blood-based biomarkers, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and circulating tumor HPV-DNA (ctHPV-DNA), were also evaluated.

Results

The 73 eligible patients (median [range] age, 61 [37-82] years; 6 [8.2%] female; 67 [91.8%] male) started neoadjuvant nivolumab and chemotherapy. Deep responses were observed in 51 patients (70.8%; 95% CI, 0.59-0.81). Subsequent risk- and response-adaptive therapy was assigned as follows: group A, single-modality radiotherapy alone or transoral robotic surgery (28 patients); group B, intermediate-dose chemoradiotherapy of 45 to 50 Gray (34 patients); and group C, regular-dose chemoradiotherapy of 70 to 75 Gray (10 patients). Two-year PFS and OS were 90.0% (95% CI, 0.80-0.95) and 91.4% (95% CI, 0.82-0.96), respectively. By response-adapted group, 2-year PFS and OS for group A were 96.4% and 96.4%, and group B, 88.0% and 91.0%, respectively. Lower enteral feeding rates and changes in weight, as well as improved swallowing, were observed among patients who received response-adapted LRT. Pathologic complete response rate among patients who underwent transoral robotic surgery was 67.0%. PD-L1 expression was nonsignificantly higher for deeper responses and improved PFS, and ctHPV-DNA clearance was significantly associated with improved PFS.

Conclusions and Relevance

This phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial found that neoadjuvant nivolumab and chemotherapy followed by response-adapted LRT is feasible and has favorable tolerability, excellent OS, and improved functional outcomes in HPV+ OPC, including among patients with high-risk disease. Moreover, addition of nivolumab may benefit high PD-L1 expressors, and sensitive dynamic biomarkers (eg, ctHPV-DNA) are useful for patient selection.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03107182.

Eradicating gross tumor disease: a prerequisite for efficient radioimmunotherapy?

Radiation therapy may induce off-target antitumor "abscopal" immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects. Several preclinical and early clinical studies revealed promising results when combining radiation therapy with immunostimulatory agents. Most radioimmunotherapy randomized trials showed disappointing results in patients with advanced tumors. In contrast, outcomes were encouraging when immunotherapy was delivered on top of gross disease elimination with curative-intent radiation therapy. In this review, we highlight available results from randomized trials and discuss the potential impact of overall tumor burden on the observed efficacy of radioimmunotherapy.

Non-operative management after immune checkpoint inhibitors for early-stage, dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal cancers

Surgery is a standard treatment for early-stage gastrointestinal cancers, often preceded by neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy or followed by adjuvant therapy. While leading to cure in a proportion of patients, it has some drawbacks such as intra/post-operative complications, mutilation and life-long functional sequelae. Further to the unprecedented efficacy data from studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instable (dMMR/MSI-H) tumours, a strong interest has recently emerged for the investigation of such agents in the neoadjuvant setting. Although limited by the exploratory design and small sample size, trials of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors for early-stage dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal cancers have consistently reported complete response rates ranging from 70 % to 100 %. As a result, the question has arisen as to whether surgery is still needed or organ-preserving strategies should be offered to this especially immuno-sensitive population. In this article, we discuss the available evidence for neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors in dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal cancers and analyse opportunities and challenges to the implementation of non-operative management approaches in this setting.

Nanocatalytic NO gas therapy against orthotopic oral squamous cell carcinoma by single iron atomic nanocatalysts

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been being one of the most malignant carcinomas featuring high metastatic and recurrence rates. The current OSCC treatment modalities in clinics severely deteriorate the quality of life of patients due to the impaired oral and maxillofacial functions. In the present work, we have engineered the single-atom Fe nanocatalysts (SAF NCs) with a NO donor (S-nitrosothiol, SNO) via surface modification to achieve synergistic nanocatalytic NO gas therapy against orthotopic OSCC. Upon near-infrared laser irradiation, the photonic hyperthermia could effectively augment the heterogeneous Fenton catalytic activity, meanwhile trigger the thermal decomposition of the engineered NO donor, thus producing toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and antitumor therapeutic NO gas at tumor lesion simultaneously, and consequently inducing the apoptotic cell death of tumors via mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. This therapeutic paradigm presents an effective local OSCC therapeutics in a synergistic manner based on the nanocatalytic NO gas therapy, providing a promising antitumor modality with high biocompatibility.

Induction-concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without sintilimab in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China (CONTINUUM): a multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Anti-PD-1 therapy and chemotherapy is a recommended first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but the role of PD-1 blockade remains unknown in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We assessed the addition of sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, to standard chemoradiotherapy in this patient population.

METHODS

This multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial was conducted at nine hospitals in China. Adults aged 18-65 years with newly diagnosed high-risk non-metastatic stage III-IVa locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (excluding T3-4N0 and T3N1) were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) using blocks of four to receive gemcitabine and cisplatin induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent cisplatin radiotherapy (standard therapy group) or standard therapy with 200 mg sintilimab intravenously once every 3 weeks for 12 cycles (comprising three induction, three concurrent, and six adjuvant cycles to radiotherapy; sintilimab group). The primary endpoint was event-free survival from randomisation to disease recurrence (locoregional or distant) or death from any cause in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary endpoints included adverse events. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03700476) and is now completed; follow-up is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Dec 21, 2018, and March 31, 2020, 425 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the sintilimab (n=210) or standard therapy groups (n=215). At median follow-up of 41·9 months (IQR 38·0-44·8; 389 alive at primary data cutoff [Feb 28, 2023] and 366 [94%] had at least 36 months of follow-up), event-free survival was higher in the sintilimab group compared with the standard therapy group (36-month rates 86% [95% CI 81-90] vs 76% [70-81]; stratified hazard ratio 0·59 [0·38-0·92]; p=0·019). Grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 155 (74%) in the sintilimab group versus 140 (65%) in the standard therapy group, with the most common being stomatitis (68 [33%] vs 64 [30%]), leukopenia (54 [26%] vs 48 [22%]), and neutropenia (50 [24%] vs 46 [21%]). Two (1%) patients died in the sintilimab group (both considered to be immune-related) and one (<1%) in the standard therapy group. Grade 3-4 immune-related adverse events occurred in 20 (10%) patients in the sintilimab group.

INTERPRETATION

Addition of sintilimab to chemoradiotherapy improved event-free survival, albeit with higher but manageable adverse events. Longer follow-up is necessary to determine whether this regimen can be considered as the standard of care for patients with high-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

FUNDING

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation, Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, and Cancer Innovative Research Program of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.

TRANSLATION

For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Camrelizumab-based induction chemoimmunotherapy in locally advanced stage hypopharyngeal carcinoma: phase II clinical trial

This phase II trial aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of induction chemoimmunotherapy of camrelizumab plus modified TPF in locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LA HSCC) (NCT04156698). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), and secondary endpoints were 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), larynx preservation rate (LPR), and metastasis-free survival (MFS). Patients (cT3-4aN0-2M0), regardless of sex, received induction chemoimmunotherapy for three cycles: camrelizumab 200 mg d1, docetaxel 75 mg/m2 d1, cisplatin 25 mg/m2 d1-3, and capecitabine 800 mg/m2 bid d1-14, q21d. Patients were assigned to radioimmunotherapy if they had a complete or partial response, those with stable or progressive disease underwent surgery and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy. Camrelizumab was maintained post-radioimmunotherapy. Fifty-one patients were enrolled with a median follow-up duration of 23.7 months. After induction therapy, the ORR was 82.4% (42/51), meeting the prespecified endpoint. Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 26 patients, and no treatment-related death occurred. As three-year outcomes were immature, two-year OS, PFS and LPR were reported. As no distant metastatic event had occurred, MFS was not reported here. The two-year OS, PFS, and LPR rates were 83.0%, 77.1%, and 70.0%, respectively. The induction chemoimmunotherapy of camrelizumab plus TPF showed a high ORR rate with an acceptable safety profile in LA HSCC.

Advancing neoadjuvant therapies in resectable non-small cell lung cancer: implications for novel treatment strategies and biomarker discovery

The delivery of neoadjuvant and perioperative therapies for non-small cell lung cancer has been radically altered by significant advances and by the incorporation of targeted therapies as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors alone or alongside conventional chemotherapy. This evolution has been particularly notable in the incorporation of immunotherapy and targeted therapy into the treatment of resectable NSCLC, where recent FDA approvals of drugs such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy, have led to considerable improvements in pathological complete response rates and the potential for enhanced long-term survival outcomes. This review emphasizes the growing importance of biomarkers in optimizing treatment selection and explores the impact of emerging studies that challenge existing treatment paradigms and investigate novel therapeutic combinations poised to redefine standard of care practices. Furthermore, the discussion extends to the unmet needs within perioperative treatment assessment and prognostication, highlighting the prospective value of biomarkers in evaluating treatment responses and prognosis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor use in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the current landscape and future perspectives

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are licensed for use in patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Multiple published and ongoing trials are assessing efficacy in the curative management of patients in the concomitant, neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant settings, as well as part of multimodality treatment in patients with metastatic disease. This review evaluates the evidence for use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in all stages of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and considers future approaches.

Let it be: Preserving tumor-draining lymph nodes in the era of immuno-oncology

Solid cancers often progress via metastasis to lymph nodes. Consequently, lymphadenectomy is central to stage cancers and eradicates disease spread. However, mounting evidence suggests that cancer immunotherapies drive antitumor immune responses within lymph nodes. This implies that immunotherapy, delivered with standard oncologic therapies, may require specific treatment sequencing to initiate immunosurveillance and affect primary tumor responses. As supported by recent preclinical and clinical studies, lymphatic-preserving strategies may offer the best promise for driving the next generation of breakthrough immunotherapy approaches.

Additional PD-1 inhibitor improves complete response to induction chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Purpose

To investigate the treatment response and toxicity of the combination of induction chemotherapy (IC) and PD-1 inhibitor in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC).

Methods

Patients with stage III-IVA NPC who received IC or IC + PD-1 inhibitor were included. The chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 225 patients were identified, including 193 (85.8%) and 32 (14.2%) who received IC alone and IC + PD-1 inhibitor, respectively. The addition of PD-1 inhibitor to IC significantly improved the tumor response than those treated with IC alone. The complete response (CR), partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease rates of 4.7% vs. 31.3%, 69.4% vs. 62.5%, 24.9% vs. 6.3%, and 1.0% vs. 0% in patients receiving IC alone and IC + PD-1 inhibitor, respectively (P<0.001). The results of the multivariate logistic regression showed that receiving PD-1 inhibitor was an independent predictor influencing the CR rate of patients (odds ratio 9.814, P<0.001). The most common toxicity by using IC and PD-1 inhibitor was hematological toxicity. In terms of non-hematological toxicity, 7 (21.9%) patients experienced thyroid dysfunction and all of them were hyperthyroidism. No grade 5 toxicities were found. In those who received IC and PD-1 inhibitor, the one-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 100%, 96.9%, 96.9%, and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion

The addition of PD-1 inhibitor to IC has promise as an effective treatment approach for LANPC. More studies are expected to provide further insights into the optimal use of this treatment strategy, paving the way for more personalized and effective treatment options for patients with LANPC.

Cancer therapy with antibodies

The greatest challenge in cancer therapy is to eradicate cancer cells with minimal damage to normal cells. Targeted therapy has been developed to meet that challenge, showing a substantially increased therapeutic index compared with conventional cancer therapies. Antibodies are important members of the family of targeted therapeutic agents because of their extraordinarily high specificity to the target antigens. Therapeutic antibodies use a range of mechanisms that directly or indirectly kill the cancer cells. Early antibodies were developed to directly antagonize targets on cancer cells. This was followed by advancements in linker technologies that allowed the production of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that guide cytotoxic payloads to the cancer cells. Improvement in our understanding of the biology of T cells led to the production of immune checkpoint-inhibiting antibodies that indirectly kill the cancer cells through activation of the T cells. Even more recently, bispecific antibodies were synthetically designed to redirect the T cells of a patient to kill the cancer cells. In this Review, we summarize the different approaches used by therapeutic antibodies to target cancer cells. We discuss their mechanisms of action, the structural basis for target specificity, clinical applications and the ongoing research to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity.

Targeting immunogenic cell stress and death for cancer therapy

Immunogenic cell death (ICD), which results from insufficient cellular adaptation to specific stressors, occupies a central position in the development of novel anticancer treatments. Several therapeutic strategies to elicit ICD - either as standalone approaches or as means to convert immunologically cold tumours that are insensitive to immunotherapy into hot and immunotherapy-sensitive lesions - are being actively pursued. However, the development of ICD-inducing treatments is hindered by various obstacles. Some of these relate to the intrinsic complexity of cancer cell biology, whereas others arise from the use of conventional therapeutic strategies that were developed according to immune-agnostic principles. Moreover, current discovery platforms for the development of novel ICD inducers suffer from limitations that must be addressed to improve bench-to-bedside translational efforts. An improved appreciation of the conceptual difference between key factors that discriminate distinct forms of cell death will assist the design of clinically viable ICD inducers.

Addressing challenges in low-income and middle-income countries through novel radiotherapy research opportunities

Although radiotherapy continues to evolve as a mainstay of the oncological armamentarium, research and innovation in radiotherapy in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) faces challenges. This third Series paper examines the current state of LMIC radiotherapy research and provides new data from a 2022 survey undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency and new data on funding. In the context of LMIC-related challenges and impediments, we explore several developments and advances-such as deep phenotyping, real-time targeting, and artificial intelligence-to flag specific opportunities with applicability and relevance for resource-constrained settings. Given the pressing nature of cancer in LMICs, we also highlight some best practices and address the broader need to develop the research workforce of the future. This Series paper thereby serves as a resource for radiation professionals.

Current status and future perspective of postoperative treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Surgery remains a foundation of treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. For postoperative patients at high risk of recurrence, however, surgery by itself is not enough, and improvement in survival requires postoperative treatment. Unlike the case with most other malignancies, the standard postoperative treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck patients with high-risk factors for recurrence is radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin. However, chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin at a dose of 100 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks has raised discussion over insufficient cisplatin delivery due to high-dose-related toxicity. As a possible solution, a recent randomized trial of the JCOG1008 has proved the non-inferiority of postoperative chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin at a dose of 40 mg/m2 to 3-weekly cisplatin in terms of overall survival. Here, this review article focuses on current evidence and future perspectives of postoperative treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Cardiotoxicity: A Comparative Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have uncommon associations with cardiotoxicity, yet these cardiotoxic effects are associated with high mortality. An accurate assessment of risk for cardiotoxicity is essential for clinical decision-making, but data from randomized controlled trials often differ from real-world observational studies.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus was performed, including phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OSs) reporting myocarditis or pericardial disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke with an immunotherapy. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to pool results between ICIs and other cancer therapy in RCTs and OSs. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline was followed. In total, 54 RCTs (N=38 264) and 24 OSs (N=12 561 455) were included. In RCTs, ICI use resulted in higher risk of myocarditis (OR, 3.55 [95% CI, 2.10-5.98]), pericardial disease (OR, 2.73 [95% CI, 1.57-4.77]), and myocardial infarction (OR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.03-3.25]), compared with non-ICI (placebo or chemotherapy). In OSs, ICI use was not associated with myocarditis, pericardial disease, or myocardial infarction compared with controls; however, combination ICIs demonstrated higher risk of myocarditis compared with single ICI use (OR, 3.07 [95% CI, 1.28-7.39]). Stroke risk was not increased with use of ICIs in RCTs.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated increased risk of ICI myocarditis, pericardial disease, and myocardial infarction in RCTs but not OSs. Results of this study suggest there are differences between ICI cardiotoxicity risk, possibly suggesting differences in diagnoses and management, in clinical trials versus the OSs.

Immunotherapy in elderly head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Over the past years, there has been a growing interest in the role of immunotherapy in locally advanced (LA) and recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). High-quality data from prospective trials are lacking for the elderly subpopulation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in older patients.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted. Randomized clinical trials providing outcome data on a subgroup of elderly (>65 years old) were available for meta-analysis. Primary outcomes of interest were OS and PFS for efficacy analysis.

Results

Seven studies were included in the systematic review and four in the efficacy analysis. The pooled analysis of OS and PFS showed a consistent benefit (HR 0.78 and 0.91, respectively).

Conclusions

Immunotherapy may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option in the elderly population, but more prospective and randomized data are needed.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42022333891).

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The neoadjuvant immunotherapy approach marks a significant shift in the treatment paradigm of potentially curable HNSCC. Here, current therapies, despite being highly individualized and advanced, often fall short in achieving satisfactory long-term survival rates and are frequently associated with substantial morbidity.The primary advantage of this approach lies in its potential to intensify and enhance treatment regimens, offering a distinct modality that complements the existing triad of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Checkpoint inhibitors have been at the forefront of this evolution. Demonstrating moderate yet significant survival benefits in the recurrent-metastatic setting with a relatively better safety profile compared to conventional treatments, these agents hold promise when considered for earlier stages of HNSCC.On the other hand, a significant potential benefit of introducing immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant phase is the possibility of treatment de-escalation. By reducing the tumor burden before surgery, this strategy could lead to less invasive surgical interventions. The prospect of organ-sparing protocols becomes a realistic and highly valued goal in this context. Further, the early application of immunotherapy might catalyze a more effective and durable immune response. The induction of an immune memory may potentially lead to a more effective surveillance of residual disease, decreasing the rates of local, regional, and distant recurrences, thereby enhancing overall and recurrence-free survival.However, neoadjuvant immunotherapy is not without its challenges. One of the primary concerns is the safety and adverse events profile. While data suggest that adverse events are relatively rare and manageable, the long-term safety profile in the neoadjuvant setting, especially in the context of curative intent, remains a subject for ongoing research. Another unsolved issue lies in the accurate assessment of treatment response. The discrepancy between radiographic assessment using RECIST criteria and histological findings has been noted, indicating a gap in current imaging techniques' ability to accurately reflect the true efficacy of immunotherapy. This gap underscores the necessity for improved imaging methodologies and the development of new radiologic and pathologic criteria tailored to evaluate the response to immunotherapy accurately.Treatment combinations and timing represent another layer of complexity. There is a vast array of possibilities in combining immunotherapy agents with conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, and other experimental treatments. Determining the optimal treatment regimen for individual patients becomes an intricate task, especially when comparing small, single-arm, non-randomized trials with varying regimens and outcome measures.Moreover, one needs to consider the importance of pre- and intraoperative decision-making in the context of neoadjuvant immunotherapy. As experience with this treatment paradigm grows, there is potential for more tailored surgical approaches based on the patient's remaining disease post-neoadjuvant treatment. This consideration is particularly relevant in extensive surgeries, where organ-sparing protocols could be evaluated.In practical terms, the multi-modal nature of this treatment strategy introduces complexities, especially outside clinical trial settings. Patients face challenges in navigating the treatment landscape, which involves coordination across multiple medical disciplines, highlighting the necessity for streamlined care pathways at specialized centers to facilitate effective treatment management if the neoadjuvant approach is introduced to the real-world.These potential harms and open questions underscore the critical need for meticulously designed clinical trials and correlational studies to ensure patient safety and efficacy. Only these can ensure that this new treatment approach is introduced in a safe way and fulfils the promise it theoretically holds.

Pembrolizumab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus placebo plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-412): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Despite multimodal therapy, 5-year overall survival for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is about 50%. We assessed the addition of pembrolizumab to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced HNSCC.

METHODS

In the randomised, double-blind, phase 3 KEYNOTE-412 trial, participants with newly diagnosed, high-risk, unresected locally advanced HNSCC from 130 medical centres globally were randomly assigned (1:1) to pembrolizumab (200 mg) plus chemoradiotherapy or placebo plus chemoradiotherapy. Randomisation was done using an interactive response technology system and was stratified by investigator's choice of radiotherapy regimen, tumour site and p16 status, and disease stage, with participants randomly assigned in blocks of four per stratum. Participants, investigators, and sponsor personnel were masked to treatment assignments. Local pharmacists were aware of assignments to support treatment preparation. Pembrolizumab and placebo were administered intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to 17 doses (one before chemoradiotherapy, two during chemoradiotherapy, 14 as maintenance therapy). Chemoradiotherapy included cisplatin (100 mg/m2) administered intravenously once every 3 weeks for two or three doses and accelerated or standard fractionation radiotherapy (70 Gy delivered in 35 fractions). The primary endpoint was event-free survival analysed in all randomly assigned participants. Safety was analysed in all participants who received at least one dose of study treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03040999, and is active but not recruiting.

FINDINGS

Between April 19, 2017, and May 2, 2019, 804 participants were randomly assigned to the pembrolizumab group (n=402) or the placebo group (n=402). 660 (82%) of 804 participants were male, 144 (18%) were female, and 622 (77%) were White. Median study follow-up was 47·7 months (IQR 42·1-52·3). Median event-free survival was not reached (95% CI 44·7 months-not reached) in the pembrolizumab group and 46·6 months (27·5-not reached) in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·83 [95% CI 0·68-1·03]; log-rank p=0·043 [significance threshold, p≤0·024]). 367 (92%) of 398 participants treated in the pembrolizumab group and 352 (88%) of 398 participants treated in the placebo group had grade 3 or worse adverse events. The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were decreased neutrophil count (108 [27%] of 398 participants in the pembrolizumab group vs 100 [25%] of 398 participants in the placebo group), stomatitis (80 [20%] vs 69 [17%]), anaemia (80 [20%] vs 61 [15%]), dysphagia (76 [19%] vs 62 [16%]), and decreased lymphocyte count (76 [19%] vs 81 [20%]). Serious adverse events occurred in 245 (62%) participants in the pembrolizumab group versus 197 (49%) participants in the placebo group, most commonly pneumonia (43 [11%] vs 25 [6%]), acute kidney injury (33 [8%] vs 30 [8%]), and febrile neutropenia (24 [6%] vs seven [2%]). Treatment-related adverse events led to death in four (1%) participants in the pembrolizumab group (one participant each from aspiration pneumonia, end-stage renal disease, pneumonia, and sclerosing cholangitis) and six (2%) participants in the placebo group (three participants from pharyngeal haemorrhage and one participant each from mouth haemorrhage, post-procedural haemorrhage, and sepsis).

INTERPRETATION

Pembrolizumab plus chemoradiotherapy did not significantly improve event-free survival compared with chemoradiotherapy alone in a molecularly unselected, locally advanced HNSCC population. No new safety signals were seen. Locally advanced HNSCC remains a challenging disease that requires better treatment approaches.

FUNDING

Merck Sharp & Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA.

PPARα Agonism Enhances Immune Response to Radiotherapy While Dietary Oleic Acid Results in Counteraction

PURPOSE

Head and neck cancer (HNC) improvements are stagnant, even with advances in immunotherapy. Our previous clinical trial data show that altered fatty acid (FA) metabolism correlates with outcome. We hypothesized that pharmacologic and dietary modulation of FA catabolism will affect therapeutic efficacy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We performed in vivo and in vitro experiments using PPARα agonism with fenofibrate (FF) or high oleic acid diets (OAD) with radiotherapy, generating metabolomic, proteomic, stable isotope tracing, extracellular flux analysis, and flow-cytometric data to investigate these alterations.

RESULTS

FF improved antitumor efficacy of high dose per fraction radiotherapy in HNC murine models, whereas the OAD reversed this effect. FF-treated mice on the control diet had evidence of increased FA catabolism. Stable isotope tracing showed less glycolytic utilization by ex vivo CD8+ T cells. Improved efficacy correlated with intratumoral alterations in eicosanoid metabolism and downregulated mTOR and CD36.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic intervention with increased FA catabolism improves the efficacy of HNC therapy and enhances antitumoral immune response.

DRP1 inhibition-mediated mitochondrial elongation abolishes cancer stemness, enhances glutaminolysis, and drives ferroptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial dynamics play a fundamental role in determining stem cell fate. However, the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics in the stemness acquisition of cancer cells are incompletely understood.

METHODS

Metabolomic profiling of cells were analyzed by MS/MS. The genomic distribution of H3K27me3 was measured by CUT&Tag. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells depended on glucose or glutamine fueling TCA cycle were monitored by 13C-isotope tracing. Organoids and tumors from patients and mice were treated with DRP1 inhibitors mdivi-1, ferroptosis inducer erastin, or combination with mdivi-1 and erastin to evaluate treatment effects.

RESULTS

Mitochondria of OSCC stem cells own fragment mitochondrial network and DRP1 is required for maintenance of their globular morphology. Imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics induced by DRP1 knockdown suppressed stemness of OSCC cells. Elongated mitochondria increased α-ketoglutarate levels and enhanced glutaminolysis to fuel the TCA cycle by increasing glutamine transporter ASCT2 expression. α-KG promoted the demethylation of histone H3K27me3, resulting in downregulation of SNAI2 associated with stemness and EMT. Significantly, suppressing DRP1 enhanced the anticancer effects of ferroptosis.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals a novel mechanism underlying mitochondrial dynamics mediated cancer stemness acquisition and highlights the therapeutic potential of mitochondria elongation to increase the susceptibility of cancer cells to ferroptosis.

De novo metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Why does locoregional control "always" matter?

De novo metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes 10% of recurrent/metastatic (RM) cases. Radiotherapy (RT) has a crucial role in the treatment of locally advanced HNSCC, however its application on RM diseases is still limited. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improves the survival of RM HNSCC, however median overall survival is still limited. Integration of locoregional RT with ICIs in de novo metastatic HNSCC represents a promising treatment option. This perspective aims to explore the role of the combination of locoregional and systemic treatment in improving outcomes for synchronous de novo metastatic HNSCC patients and highlights the principal crucial point in decision making.

Th2 Cells Are Associated with Tumor Recurrence Following Radiation

The curative treatment of multiple solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), utilizes radiation. The outcomes for HPV/p16-negative HNSCC are significantly worse than HPV/p16-positive tumors, with increased radiation resistance leading to worse locoregional recurrence (LRR) and ultimately death. This study analyzed the relationship between immune function and outcomes following radiation in HPV/p16-negative tumors to identify mechanisms of radiation resistance and prognostic immune biomarkers. A discovery cohort of 94 patients with HNSCC treated uniformly with surgery and adjuvant radiation and a validation cohort of 97 similarly treated patients were utilized. Tumor immune infiltrates were derived from RNAseq gene expression. The immune cell types significantly associated with outcomes in the discovery cohort were examined in the independent validation cohort. A positive association between high Th2 infiltration and LRR was identified in the discovery cohort and validated in the validation cohort. Tumor mutations in CREBBP/EP300 and CASP8 were significantly associated with Th2 infiltration. A pathway analysis of genes correlated with Th2 cells revealed the potential repression of the antitumor immune response and the activation of BRCA1-associated DNA damage repair in multiple cohorts. The Th2 infiltrates were enriched in the HPV/p16-negative HNSCC tumors and associated with LRR and mutations in CASP8, CREBBP/EP300, and pathways previously shown to impact the response to radiation.

The interplay between autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling and its implications for cancer

Autophagy is an intracellular process that targets various cargos for degradation, including members of the cGAS-STING signaling cascade. cGAS-STING senses cytosolic double-stranded DNA and triggers an innate immune response through type I interferons. Emerging evidence suggests that autophagy plays a crucial role in regulating and fine-tuning cGAS-STING signaling. Reciprocally, cGAS-STING pathway members can actively induce canonical as well as various non-canonical forms of autophagy, establishing a regulatory network of feedback mechanisms that alter both the cGAS-STING and the autophagic pathway. The crosstalk between autophagy and the cGAS-STING pathway impacts a wide variety of cellular processes such as protection against pathogenic infections as well as signaling in neurodegenerative disease, autoinflammatory disease and cancer. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms involved in autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling, with a specific focus on the interactions between the two pathways and their importance for cancer.

Tumor-specific T cells in head and neck cancer have rescuable functionality and can be identified through single-cell co-culture

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a treatment-resistance disease with limited response to immunotherapy. While T cells in HNSCC are known to display phenotypic dysfunction, whether they retain rescuable functional capacity and tumor-killing capability remains unclear.

METHODS

To investigate the functionality and tumor-specificity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) across HNSCCs, malignant cell lines and TILs were derived from 31 HPV-negative HNSCCs at the time of standard surgical resection. T cell functional capacity was evaluated through ex vivo expansion, immunophenotyping, and IsoLight single-cell proteomics. Tumor-specificity was investigated through both bulk and single-cell tumor-TIL co-culture.

RESULTS

TILs could be successfully generated from 24 patients (77%), including both previously untreated and radiation recurrent HNSCCs. We demonstrate that across HNSCCs, TILs express multiple exhaustion markers but maintain a predominantly effector memory phenotype. After ex vivo expansion, TILs retain immunogenic functionality even from radiation-resistant, exhausted, and T cell-depleted disease. We further demonstrate tumor-specificity of T cells across HNSCC patients through patient-matched malignant cell-T cell co-culture. Finally, we use optofluidic technology to establish an autologous single tumor cell-single T cell co-culture platform for HNSCC. Cells derived from three HNSCC patients underwent single-cell co-culture which enabled identification and visualization of individual tumor-killing TILs in real-time in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies show that cancer-specific T cells exist across HNSCC patients with rescuable immunogenicity and can be identified on a single-cell level. These data lay the foundation for development of patient-specific T cell immunotherapies in HNSCC.

Combinatorial Approaches for Chemotherapies and Targeted Therapies With Radiation: United Efforts to Innovate in Patient Care

Combinatorial therapies consisting of radiation therapy (RT) with systemic therapies, particularly chemotherapy and targeted therapies, have moved the needle to augment disease control across nearly all disease sites for locally advanced disease. Evaluating these important combinations to incorporate more potent therapies with RT will aid our understanding of toxicity and efficacy for patients. This article discusses multiple disease sites and includes a compilation of contributions from expert Red Journal editors from each disease site. Leveraging improved systemic control with novel agents, we must continue efforts to study novel treatment combinations with RT.

The Next Chapter in Immunotherapy and Radiation Combination Therapy: Cancer-Specific Perspectives

Immunotherapeutic agents have revolutionized cancer treatment over the past decade. However, most patients fail to respond to immunotherapy alone. A growing body of preclinical studies highlights the potential for synergy between radiation therapy and immunotherapy, but the outcomes of clinical studies have been mixed. This review summarizes the current state of immunotherapy and radiation combination therapy across cancers, highlighting existing challenges and promising areas for future investigation.

A randomized study comparing the nutritional effects of radiotherapy with cetuximab versus cisplatin in patients with advanced head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients have a high risk of developing malnutrition. This randomized study aimed to compare the effect of weekly cisplatin or cetuximab combined with radiotherapy on weight loss at 3 months after treatment was started. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of malnutrition using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, feeding tube dependence and health related quality of life from a nutritional perspective.

METHODS

Patients from the ARTSCAN III study with advanced HNC were assessed for weight, body composition, enteral tube dependence and selected quality-of-life scores (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35) at diagnosis and 6 weeks 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment initiation.

RESULTS

Of the 80 patients, 38 and 42 were randomized to receive cetuximab and cisplatin treatment, respectively. There was no significant difference in weight loss at 3 months between the two study groups. However, the cetuximab group had significantly less weight loss, fewer enteral feeding tubes and better physical functioning at the end of treatment but more pain-related problems 3 months after treatment initiation. No differences between the groups were found at 6 and 12 months. The prevalence of malnutrition was not significantly different at any time point.

CONCLUSION

The hypothesized benefit of concomitant treatment with cetuximab over cisplatin regarding the prevalence of malnutrition was not supported by this study.

IL7 in combination with radiotherapy stimulates a memory T-cell response to improve outcomes in HNSCC models

Clinically approved head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) immunotherapies manipulate the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) axis but have had limited success outside of recurrent/metastatic disease. Interleukin-7 (IL7) has been shown to be essential for effector T-cell survival, activation, and proliferation. Here, we show that IL7 in combination with radiotherapy (RT) is effective in activating CD8 + T-cells for reducing tumor growth. Our studies were conducted using both human papillomavirus related and unrelated orthotopic HNSCC murine models. Immune populations from the tumor, draining lymph nodes, and blood were compared between treatment groups and controls using flow cytometry, proteomics, immunofluorescence staining, and RNA sequencing. Treatment with RT and IL7 (RT + IL7) resulted in significant tumor growth reduction, high CD8 T-cell tumor infiltration, and increased proliferation of T-cell progenitors in the bone marrow. IL7 also expanded a memory-like subpopulation of CD8 T-cells. These results indicate that IL7 in combination with RT can serve as an effective immunotherapy strategy outside of the conventional ICB axis to drive the antitumor activity of CD8 T-cells.

Optimising Patient Outcomes in Tongue Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of tongue cancer is vital for achieving optimal patient outcomes. Nursing and allied health professionals play essential roles within the team. We developed symposia comprising a series of online lectures offering a detailed perspective on the role each discipline and consumer perspective has in the management of patients with tongue cancer. The topics, including epidemiology and prevention, diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery, adjuvant care, and the management of recurrent or metastatic disease, were thoroughly examined. The symposia highlighted the significance of fostering collaboration and continuous learning through a multidisciplinary approach. This initiative should be relevant to healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers striving to enhance patient outcomes in tongue cancer care through innovative collaboration.

Global research landscape and trends of cancer radiotherapy plus immunotherapy: A bibliometric analysis

The aim of this study was to present current research trends on the synergistic use of radiotherapy and immunotherapy (IRT) for cancer treatment. On March 1, 2023, we conducted a literature search for IRT papers using the Web of Science database. We extracted information and constructed two databases - the Core Database (CD) with 864 papers and Generalized Database (GD) with 6344 papers. A bibliometric analysis was performed to provide insights into the research landscape, to identify emerging trends and highly cited papers and journals in the field of IRT. The CD contained 864 papers that were collectively cited 31,818 times. Prominent journals in this area included the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Corresponding authors from the USA contributed the most publications. In recent years, lung cancer, melanoma, stereotactic radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the tumor microenvironment emerged as hot research areas. This bibliometric analysis presented quantitative insights into research concerning IRT and proposed potential avenues for further exploration. Moreover, researchers can use our findings to select appropriate journals for publication or identify prospective collaborators. In summary, this bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the historical progression and recent advancements in IRT research that may serve as inspiration for future investigations.

Moving from conventional to adaptive risk stratification for oropharyngeal cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) poses a complex therapeutic dilemma for patients and oncologists alike, made worse by the epidemic increase in new cases associated with the oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV). In a counterintuitive manner, the very thing which gives patients hope, the high response rate of HPV-associated OPC to conventional chemo-radiation strategies, has become one of the biggest challenges for the field as a whole. It has now become clear that for ~30-40% of patients, treatment intensity could be reduced without losing therapeutic efficacy, yet substantially diminishing the acute and lifelong morbidity resulting from conventional chemotherapy and radiation. At the same time, conventional approaches to de-escalation at a population (selected or unselected) level are hampered by a simple fact: we lack patient-specific information from individual tumors that can predict responsiveness. This results in a problematic tradeoff between the deleterious impact of de-escalation on patients with aggressive, treatment-refractory disease and the beneficial reduction in treatment-related morbidity for patients with treatment-responsive disease. True precision oncology approaches require a constant, iterative interrogation of solid tumors prior to and especially during cancer treatment in order to tailor treatment intensity to tumor biology. Whereas this approach can be deployed in hematologic diseases with some success, our ability to extend it to solid cancers with regional metastasis has been extremely limited in the curative intent setting. New developments in metabolic imaging and quantitative interrogation of circulating DNA, tumor exosomes and whole circulating tumor cells, however, provide renewed opportunities to adapt and individualize even conventional chemo-radiation strategies to diseases with highly variable biology such as OPC. In this review, we discuss opportunities to deploy developing technologies in the context of institutional and cooperative group clinical trials over the coming decade.

Neoadjuvant therapy with chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor for laryngeal function preservation in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and laryngeal function preservation of neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer (LAHPC).

Methods

We retrospectively collected LAHPC patients who were diagnosed between February 2022 and June 2023. The patients received a combination of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors as the neoadjuvant therapy. The response to treatment, laryngeal function preservation rate, and short-term survival were assessed.

Results

A total of 20 patients were included. Of these patients, 17 (85.0%) had stage IVA-B disease. Ten (50%) and four (20%) patients achieved pathological complete response (PCR) and major pathological response (MPR) to the primary tumor, respectively. In addition, 6 patients had incomplete pathological response (IPR). In the neck, 19 patients had node-positive disease before treatment, and only 5 patients (26.4%) had PCR to regional lymph nodes. Pathologically positive lymph nodes were still observed in 14 (73.6%) patients. Significant downgrading on narrow-band imaging assessment in primary tumors was associated with a higher probability of PCR or MPR than those with IPR (92.9% vs. 33.3%, P=0.014). The overall rate of laryngeal preservation was 95.0%. No severe perioperative complications or perioperative death were found. All patients completed the recommended postoperative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 12.1 months. The 1-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 94.1% and 92.9%, respectively. During the follow-up period, all 19 patients who underwent laryngeal preservation surgery had their laryngeal function preserved.

Conclusion

The addition of an immune checkpoint inhibitor to neoadjuvant chemotherapy effectively preserves laryngeal function without increasing complications related to surgery and postoperative radiotherapy in LAHPC.

Sensory nerve release of CGRP increases tumor growth in HNSCC by suppressing TILs

BACKGROUND

Perineural invasion (PNI) and nerve density within the tumor microenvironment (TME) have long been associated with worse outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This prompted an investigation into how nerves within the tumor microenvironment affect the adaptive immune system and tumor growth.

METHODS

We used RNA sequencing analysis of human tumor tissue from a recent HNSCC clinical trial, proteomics of human nerves from HNSCC patients, and syngeneic orthotopic murine models of HPV-unrelated HNSCC to investigate how sensory nerves modulate the adaptive immune system.

FINDINGS

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) directly inhibited CD8 T cell activity in vitro, and blocking sensory nerve function surgically, pharmacologically, or genetically increased CD8 and CD4 T cell activity in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support sensory nerves playing a role in accelerating tumor growth by directly acting on the adaptive immune system to decrease Th1 CD4 T cells and activated CD8 T cells in the TME. These data support further investigation into the role of sensory nerves in the TME of HNSCC and points toward the possible treatment efficacy of blocking sensory nerve function or specifically inhibiting CGRP release or activity within the TME to improve outcomes.

FUNDING

1R01DE028282-01, 1R01DE028529-01, 1P50CA261605-01 (to S.D.K.), 1R01CA284651-01 (to S.D.K.), and F31 DE029997 (to L.B.D.).

Kaplan lecture 2023: lymphopenia in particle therapy

PURPOSE

Lymphopenia is now generally recognized as a negative prognostic factor in radiotherapy. Already at the beginning of the century we demonstrated that high-energy carbon ions induce less damage to the lymphocytes of radiotherapy patients than X-rays, even if heavy ions are more effective per unit dose in the induction of chromosomal aberrations in blood cells irradiated ex-vivo. The explanation was based on the volume effect, i.e. the sparing of larger volumes of normal tissue in Bragg peak therapy. Here we will review the current knowledge about the difference in lymphopenia between particle and photon therapy and the consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

There is nowadays an overwhelming evidence that particle therapy reduces significantly the radiotherapy-induced lymphopenia in several tumor sites. Because lymphopenia turns down the immune response to checkpoint inhibitors, it can be predicted that particle therapy may be the ideal partner for combined radiation and immunotherapy treatment and should be selected for patients where severe lymphopenia is expected after X-rays.

Palliative Quad Shot Radiation Therapy with or without Concurrent Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES

Patients with recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) have limited treatment options. 'QuadShot' (QS), a hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy regimen, can provide symptomatic relief and local control and may potentiate the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We compared outcomes of QS ± concurrent ICIs in the palliative treatment of HNC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified patients who received ≥three cycles of QS from 2017 to 2022 and excluded patients without post-treatment clinical evaluation or imaging. Outcomes for patients who received QS alone were compared to those treated with ICI concurrent with QS, defined as receipt of ICI within 4 weeks of QS.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were included, of whom 57% received concurrent ICI. Median age was 65.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 57.9-77.8), and 50% patients had received prior radiation to a median dose of 66 Gy (IQR: 60-70). Median follow-up was 8.8 months. Local control was significantly higher with concurrent ICIs (12-month: 85% vs. 63%, p = 0.038). Distant control (12-month: 56% vs. 63%, p = 0.629) and median overall survival (9.0 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.850) were similar between the two groups. On multivariable analysis, concurrent ICI was a significant predictor of local control (HR for local failure: 0.238; 95% CI: 0.073-0.778; p = 0.018). Overall, 23% patients experienced grade 3 toxicities, which was similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of QS with concurrent ICIs was well tolerated and significantly improved local control compared to QS alone. The median OS of 9.4 months compares favorably to historical controls for patients with HNC treated with QS. This approach represents a promising treatment option for patients with HNC unsuited for curative-intent treatment and warrants prospective evaluation.

Complete tumor resection reverses neutrophilia-associated suppression of systemic anti-tumor immunity

OBJECTIVES

Tumor infiltrating neutrophils suppress T cell function, but whether neutrophils in circulation contribute to systemic immunosuppression is unclear. We aimed to study whether peripheral neutrophils that accumulate with tumor progression contribute to systemic immunosuppression, and if observed suppression of systemic anti-tumor immunity could be reversed with complete surgical tumor removal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Syngeneic murine oral cancers were established in immunocompetent mice. Proteomic and functional immune assays were used to study plasma cytokine concentration, peripheral immune frequencies, and systemic anti-tumor immunity with and without complete primary tumor resection.

RESULTS

Ly6G+ neutrophilic cells, but not other myeloid cell types, accumulated in the periphery of mice with progressing tumors. This accumulation positively associated with plasma G-CSF concentration. Circulating neutrophils were functionally immunosuppressive. Complete surgical tumor removal reversed the observed neutrophilia, with neutrophil frequencies returning to baseline in 21 days. Multiple independent functional assays revealed enhanced systemic anti-tumor immunity in mice following tumor resection compared to tumor-bearing mice, and the observed enhanced systemic immunity could be reproduced with selective neutrophil depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete primary tumor resection can reverse neutrophilia that develops during tumor progression and result in enhanced systemic anti-tumor immunity. Primary tumor removal relieves neutrophil-driven systemic immunosuppression and may itself contribute to the clinical benefit observed with neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

Major and durable responses to photon and electron-beam palliative radiotherapies after immune-checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

The immuno-modulatory effects of ionizing radiation are well-known and preclinical studies suggest a synergistic effect of combining radiotherapy (RT) and IO. However, data regarding the clinical activity and safety of this approach are limited.

METHODS

We present the cases of two patients with SCCHN primary progressing to PDL1-based IO within a clinical trial (NCT03383094), that received subsequent but not concurrent palliative RT using two different modalities (electron beam and photon beam therapies).

RESULTS

Both patients achieved major and durable responses at 4 irradiated sites, with excellent tolerance and no grade ≥ 3 toxicities. Complete response occurred in 3 of the disease areas (all locoregional) and partial response in 1 metastatic lesion.

CONCLUSION

Palliative radiotherapy after progression to IO was safe and demonstrated profound and durable responses in the cases presented.

Surrogate endpoints in clinical trials of p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx: an individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The increased incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers has motivated efforts to optimise treatment for these patients with excellent prognosis. Validation of surrogates for overall survival could expedite the investigation of new therapies. We sought to evaluate candidate intermediate clinical endpoints in trials assessing definitive treatment of p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

METHODS

We did a retrospective review of five multicentre, randomised trials (NRG/RTOG 9003, 0129, 0234, 0522, and 1016) that tested radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in patients (aged ≥18 years) with p16-positive localised head or neck squamous-cell carcinomas. Eight intermediate clinical endpoints were considered as potential surrogates for overall survival: freedom from local progression, freedom from regional progression, freedom from distant metastasis, freedom from locoregional progression, freedom from any progression, locoregional progression-free survival, progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival. We used a two-stage meta-analytical framework, which requires high correlation between the intermediate clinical endpoint and overall survival at the patient level (condition 1), and high correlation between the treatment effect on the intermediate clinical endpoint and the treatment effect on overall survival (condition 2). For both, an r2 greater than 0·7 was used as criteria for clinically relevant surrogacy.

FINDINGS

We analysed 1373 patients with oropharyngeal cancer from May 9, 2020, to Nov 22, 2023. 1231 (90%) of patients were men, 142 (10%) were women, and 1207 (88%) were White, with a median age of 57 years (IQR 51-62). Median follow-up was 4·2 years (3·1-5·1). For the first condition, correlating the intermediate clinical endpoints with overall survival at the individual and trial level, the three composite endpoints of locoregional progression-free survival (Kendall's τ 0·91 and r2 0·72), distant metastasis-free survival (Kendall's τ 0·93 and r2 0·83), and progression-free survival (Kendall's τ 0·88 and r2 0·70) were highly correlated with overall survival at the patient level and at the trial-group level. For the second condition, correlating treatment effects of the intermediate clinical endpoints and overall survival, the composite endpoints of locoregional progression-free survival (r2 0·88), distant metastasis-free survival (r2 0·96), and progression-free survival (r2 0·92) remained strong surrogates. Treatment effects on the remaining intermediate clinical endpoints were less strongly correlated with overall survival.

INTERPRETATION

We identified locoregional progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and progression-free survival as surrogates for overall survival in p16-positive oropharyngeal cancers treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which could serve as clinical trial endpoints.

FUNDING

NRG Oncology Operations, NRG Oncology SDMC, the National Cancer Institute, Eli Lilly, Aventis, and the University of Michigan.

Molecular basis, potential biomarkers, and future prospects of OSCC and PD-1/PD-L1 related immunotherapy methods

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) affects a large number of individuals worldwide. Despite advancements in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, satisfactory outcomes have not been achieved. In recent years, the success of drugs targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has led to breakthroughs in cancer treatment, but systematic summaries on their effectiveness against OSCC are lacking. This article reviews the latest research on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and the potential of combination therapy based on this pathway in OSCC. Further, it explores the mechanisms involved in the interaction of this pathway with exosomes and protein-protein interactions, and concludes with potential future OSCC therapeutic strategies.

Neoplasia-related and treatment-induced lymphopenia: impact on the outcome of chemoradiotherapy in laryngeal cancer

INTRODUCTION

The role of the immune system in the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) has been well established. We examined the role of neoplasia-related and treatment-induced lymphopenia in the outcome of RT or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in squamous cell laryngeal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a series of 135 laryngeal carcinomas treated with radical or postoperative RT/CRT. Six lymphocyte-related variables were defined and examined: i. lymphocyte counts (LCs) before a brief course of induction chemotherapy, ii. pre-RT LCs, iii. post-RT LCs, iv. pre-RT neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L), v. pre-RT monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (M/L), and vi. pre-RT platelet/lymphocyte ratio (Pt/L).

RESULTS

RT and CRT resulted in a significant decrease of LCs at the end of therapy, and this was significantly more prominent in patients treated with radical intent and neck irradiation (median LC nadir 810/μl vs. 1250/μl; p = .0003). Induction chemotherapy did not intensify the lymphotoxic effect of RT. LCs lower than the 33rd percentile before RT (<1718/μl) and after RT (<720/μl) were significantly linked to poor locoregional progression-free survival (LRFS; p = .02 and p = .08, respectively) and disease-specific overall survival (OS; p = .02 and p = .03, respectively). This was also confirmed multivariate analysis (LRFS: p = .006/HR = 2.41 and p = .08/HR = 1.76, respectively; OS: p = .001/HR = 3.06 and p = .02/HR = 2.07, respectively). High pre-RT N/L, M/L, and Pt/L ratios were also of ominous prognostic relevance.

CONCLUSIONS

Both neoplasia-related and RT-induced lymphopenia define the outcome of RT in terms of locoregional failure, incidence of metastasis, and, finally, disease-specific survival of patients with laryngeal cancer. Restoration of pre-RT lymphopenia and protection of peripheral lymphocytes during RT emerge as critical issues that demand therapeutic interventions to maximize the efficacy of RT/CRT in patients with laryngeal cancer.

HSP90 inhibition suppresses tumor glycolytic flux to potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Glycolytic metabolism may account for antitumor immunity failure. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and platelet phosphofructokinase (PFKP), two key enzymes involved in the glycolytic pathway, are hyperactivated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Using ganetespib as a drug model for heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibition and combining results from clinical trials and animal treatment, we demonstrated that HSP90 inhibition leads to a blockade of glycolytic flux in HNSCC cells by simultaneously suppressing PKM2 and PFKP at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. Down-regulation of tumor glycolysis facilitates tumor infiltration of cytotoxic T cells via suppression of glycolysis-dependent interleukin-8 signaling. The addition of ganetespib to radiation attenuates radiation-induced up-regulation of PKM2 and PFKP and potentiates T cell-mediated antitumor immunity, resulting in a more potent antitumor effect than either treatment alone, providing a molecular basis for exploring the combination of HSP90 inhibitors with radiotherapy to improve outcomes for patients with HNSCC.

Mechanisms of Resistance and Therapeutic Perspectives in Immunotherapy for Advanced Head and Neck Cancers

Immunotherapy is emerging as an effective treatment for advanced head and neck cancers and interest in this treatment modality has led to rapid expansion of this research. Pembrolizumab and nivolumab, monoclonal antibodies directed against the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor, are US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- and European Medical Agency (EMA)-approved immunotherapies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Resistance to immunotherapy is common, with about 60% of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC not responding to immunotherapy and only 20-30% of patients without disease progression in the long term. Overcoming resistance to immunotherapy is therefore essential for augmenting the effectiveness of immunotherapy in HNSCC. This review details the innate and adaptive mechanisms by which head and neck cancers can become resistant to immunotherapeutic agents, biomarkers that can be used for immunotherapy patient selection, as well as other factors of the tumor microenvironment correlated with therapeutic response and prognosis. Numerous combinations and novel immunotherapies are currently being trialed, based on better understood immune evasion mechanisms. These potential treatments hold the promise of overcoming resistance to immunotherapy in head and neck cancers.

Circulating Plasma Exosomal PD-L1 Predicts Prognosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Radiation Therapy

Purpose

Radiation therapy is widely used to treat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study evaluated the association between circulating plasma programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and the outcomes of patients with HNSCC after radiation therapy.

Methods and Materials

In this retrospective observational study, plasma samples of 76 patients with HNSCC who underwent radiation therapy from June 2019 to August 2021 were analyzed. These plasma samples were obtained before radiation therapy. The median follow-up was 32.5 months. Total and exosomal PD-L1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and retrospectively analyzed for association with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local control (LC). Prognostic factors among patients' characteristics and circulating PD-L1 in plasma were evaluated by univariate (log-rank test) and multivariate (Cox proportional hazards model) analyses.

Results

The median concentration of total PD-L1 in plasma was 115.1 pg/mL (95% CI, 114.7-137.9 pg/mL), and the median concentration of exosomal PD-L1 was 2.8 pg/mL (95% CI, 6.0-13.0 pg/mL). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed exosomal PD-L1 as a prognostic factor for PFS and LC. Patients with high exosomal PD-L1 in plasma had poor PFS and LC compared with those with low exosomal PD-L1, indicating that 1-year PFS was 79.2% versus 33.3% (P < .001) and 1-year LC was 87.3% versus 50.0% (P < .001) in patients with high and low exosomal PD-L1, respectively. However, exosomal PD-L1 in plasma had no significant effect on OS. Total PD-L1 in plasma did not correlate with PFS, LC, and OS.

Conclusions

The pretreatment circulating exosomal PD-L1 in plasma of patients with HNSCC was a prognostic factor after radiation therapy.

Sustained Clinical Response to Immunotherapy Followed by BET Inhibitor in a Patient with Unresectable Sinonasal NUT Carcinoma

NUT carcinomas (NCs) are a group of rare tumors that can occur anywhere in the body and are defined by the fusion of the nuclear protein in testis (NUTM1) resulting in increased transcription of proto-oncogenes. NCs have a poor prognosis that varies according to the site of origin with an urgent need to develop new treatment strategies. Case reports on immunotherapy in pulmonary NC have been published, and bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) inhibitors have shown activity in NC in phase I/II trials. We present the case of a 27-year-old woman with an unresectable sinonasal NC who had a sustained clinical response to both immunotherapy and BET inhibitor therapy. This is the first reported case of immunotherapy in sinonasal NC, and it highlights the different responses to a range of treatments including BET inhibitor therapy. This case supports the theory that NCs arising from different primary sites have differing prognoses.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Serve as the First-Line Treatment for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has demonstrated substantial benefits for certain patients. We try to evaluate the merits and demerits of each immunotherapy to aid clinical treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for randomized clinical trials published as of June 10, 2023. Our study included published clinical trials of ICI monotherapy or combination therapy, along with data on treatment-related adverse events (TRAE). Data regarding survival efficacy and adverse events of each randomized controlled trial (RCT) were collected. The Bayesian random effects model was utilized for the network meta-analysis (NMA).

RESULTS

This study incorporated 19 RCTs, involving 5900 patients. Among 14 treatment regimens, Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy emerged as the most promising primary treatment for overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR). Toripalimab combined with chemotherapy exhibited the highest likelihood of becoming the primary treatment for extending progression-free survival (PFS). Durvalumab showed the lowest probability of adverse events, suggesting a safer profile compared with other drugs. Camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy demonstrated a heightened risk of adverse events. Dual ICI Nivolumab/Ipilimumab surpassed Durvalumab/Tremelimumab in terms of ORR and adverse events. The standard of care (SOC) regimen did not exhibit strong performance across the four outcome indicators.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis suggests that the integration of chemotherapy agents with ICIs enhances its efficacy as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced head and neck cancer (HNC).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

1 Laryngoscope, 134:749-761, 2024.

Immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: current status and perspectives

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of several solid cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). First approved for second-line settings, ICIs are now used for the first-line treatment of HNSCCs, mainly in combination with standard chemotherapy. This review focuses on the results of the main phase III studies evaluating ICIs in recurrent or metastatic HNSCCs. The efficacy and indications according to the PD-L1 status, the main predictive biomarker, are discussed. The results of trials assessing ICI efficacy for locally advanced disease, including the neoadjuvant setting are also discussed. Finally, therapeutic combinations that are potential treatments for HNSCCs, including ICIs and targeted therapies such as anti-EGFR agents, are presented.