Results of concurrent radiotherapy and immunotherapy in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer: A single-center experience

Sezin Yuce Sari; Melek Tugce Yilmaz; Burak Yasin Aktas; Sercan Aksoy; Ibrahim Gullu; Mustafa Cengiz; Gokhan Ozyigit; Gozde Yazici

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105658

Results of concurrent radiotherapy and immunotherapy in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer: A single-center experience

Oral Oncol. 2022 Jan:124:105658. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105658. Epub 2021 Dec 6.

Authors

Sezin Yuce Sari¹, Melek Tugce Yilmaz², Burak Yasin Aktas³, Sercan Aksoy⁴, Ibrahim Gullu⁵, Mustafa Cengiz⁶, Gokhan Ozyigit⁷, Gozde Yazici⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: sezin_yuce@hotmail.com.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: mlktgcylmz@gmail.com.
³ Department of Medical Oncology, Afyonkarahisar State Hospital, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Electronic address: byaktas@hacettepe.edu.tr.
⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: saksoy@hacettepe.edu.tr.
⁵ Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ibrahimhalil.gullu@hacettepe.edu.tr.
⁶ Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: mcengiz@hacettepe.edu.tr.
⁷ Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: gozyigit@hacettepe.edu.tr.
⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: yazicig@gmail.com.

PMID: 34883400
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105658

Abstract

Objectives: In metastatic and recurrent head and neck cancer (M/R HN-SCC), the median survival is less than a year and locoregional recurrence is the main cause of death. Our aim was to evaluate the results of concurrent stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and immunotherapy (ICI) in these patients.

Materials and methods: Fifteen patients diagnosed with M/R HN-SCC were evaluated retrospectively. All patients received SBRT (3x8 Gy) to all recurrent and metastatic foci with concurrent ICI.

Results: Six months overall survival (OS) rates and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 93% and 86%, respectively. Local control (LC) rate in the site of SBRT was 96%. Higher survival and LC rates were achieved with lower doses of radiotherapy with the synergistic effect of SBRT and ICI.

Conclusion: Concurrent ICI and SBRT was feasible with excellent LC.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer; Immunotherapy; Nivolumab; Radiotherapy; Re-irradiation; SBRT.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Humans
Immunotherapy
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy
Radiosurgery* / methods
Retrospective Studies