Programmed cell death protein 1 axis blockade in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches

Ioannis A Vathiotis; Jennifer M Johnson; Adam Luginbuhl; David Cognetti; Joseph Curry; Athanassios Argiris

doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102437

Programmed cell death protein 1 axis blockade in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches

Cancer Treat Rev. 2022 Sep:109:102437. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102437. Epub 2022 Jul 16.

Authors

Ioannis A Vathiotis¹, Jennifer M Johnson², Adam Luginbuhl³, David Cognetti³, Joseph Curry³, Athanassios Argiris⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Section of Medical Oncology, Third Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
² Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: athanassios.argiris@gmail.com.

PMID: 35868194
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102437

Abstract

Immunotherapy and in particular programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors have been applied not only in the management of recurrent or metastatic disease but also as component of potentially curative treatment for many solid tumors. The incorporation of immunotherapy as neoadjuvant and /or adjuvant therapy in the treatment paradigm of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is appealing with the goals of enhancing antitumor efficacy and, at the same time, reduce toxicity. This review analyzes the rationale for employing immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, reviews the results of relevant clinical trials, and examines the potential benefits and caveats of neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant approaches in patients with SCCHN.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Immunotherapy; Neoadjuvant; PD-1; PD-L1; SCCHN.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy / methods
Neoadjuvant Therapy
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor* / metabolism
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / drug therapy

Substances

Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor