Durable complete response rates following radiotherapy and immunotherapy
combination in recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell
carcinoma: A retrospective single centre cohort study
Abstract
Key Points 1. This study reports clinical outcome data on 76 patients
with platinum-resistant recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous
carcinoma treated with nivolumab, making it the largest published single
centre case series of its kind. 2. Radiotherapy was administered
alongside systemic therapy with nivolumab, defined as radiotherapy
within 8 weeks of prior systemic therapy, in 16 of 76 patients (21%).
3. Nivolumab was continued following radiotherapy completion due to
ongoing clinical benefit from the drug in 9 of 16 patients (56%). 4.
Durable complete response following radio-immunotherapy was seen in 2 of
the 9 patients (22%) who continued nivolumab subsequent to
radiotherapy. 5. Indications for radiotherapy included symptom control
(3 of 9), oligoprogression (5 of 9) and incomplete response (1 of 9).