Tumor treating fields as novel combination partner in the multimodal treatment of head and neck cancer

Sebastian Regnery; Henrik Franke; Thomas Held; Thuy Trinh; Ariel Naveh; Yissachar Abraham; Juliane Hörner-Rieber; Jochen Hess; Peter E Huber; Jürgen Debus; Ramon Lopez Perez; Sebastian Adeberg

doi:10.1002/hed.27298

Tumor treating fields as novel combination partner in the multimodal treatment of head and neck cancer

Head Neck. 2023 Apr;45(4):838-848. doi: 10.1002/hed.27298. Epub 2023 Mar 5.

Authors

Sebastian Regnery¹, Henrik Franke^{1

2}, Thomas Held^{1

2}, Thuy Trinh^{1

2}, Ariel Naveh³, Yissachar Abraham³, Juliane Hörner-Rieber^{1

2}, Jochen Hess^{4

5}, Peter E Huber^{1

2}, Jürgen Debus^{1

2}, Ramon Lopez Perez², Sebastian Adeberg^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
² Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular and Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
³ Novocure, Ltd., Haifa, Israel.
⁴ Section of Experimental and Translation Head and neck Oncology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
⁵ Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.

PMID: 36872620
DOI: 10.1002/hed.27298

Abstract

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the effects of tumor treating fields (TTFields) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells when combined with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy.

Methods: Two human HNSCC cell lines (Cal27, FaDu) received five different treatments: TTFields, RT +/- TTFields and RT + simultaneous cisplatin +/- TTFields. Effects were quantified using clonogenic assays and flow cytometric analyses of DAPI, caspase-3 activation and γH2AX foci.

Results: Treatment with RT + TTFields decreased the clonogenic survival as strong as treatment with RT + simultaneous cisplatin. The triple combination of RT + simultaneous cisplatin + TTFields even further decreased the clonogenic survival. Accordingly, combination of TTFields with RT or RT + simultaneous cisplatin increased cellular apoptosis and DNA double-strand breaks.

Conclusion: TTFields therapy seems a promising combination partner in the multimodal treatment of locally advanced HNSCC. It could be used to intensify chemoradiotherapy or as alternative to chemotherapy.

Keywords: chemoradiotherapy; head and neck cancer; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck; tumor treating fields.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chemoradiotherapy
Cisplatin*
Combined Modality Therapy
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / therapy
Humans
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / therapy

Substances

Cisplatin