Durvalumab for recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): Preliminary results from a single-arm, phase 2 study

Safety and clinical activity of atezolizumab in head and neck cancer: results from a phase I trial

“…Atezolizumab was well tolerated, and no treatment-related deaths or unexpected AEs were observed in this heavily pretreated cohort. Similar to other agents inhibiting PD-L1/PD-1 signaling [9,22,23], the majority of TRAEs with atezolizumab were grade 1-2, with a grade 3-4 TRAE rate of 13%. Pneumonitis was not observed.…”

Anti PD-L1 DUrvalumab combined with Cetuximab and RadiOtherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A phase I/II study (DUCRO)

“…Recent trials [18] , [23] , [24] , [25] showed that ICI’s have promising efficacy in HNSCC. Both in R/M and locally advanced disease, combination strategies are currently being explored to enhance the antitumor activity achieved with single-agent PD1/PD-L1 blockers.…”

“…Given these observations, it has been postulated that HNSCC may benefit from immunotherapeutic strategies, primarily aimed at PD-L1/PD1 checkpoint blockade. In analogy with two other anti-PD1 antibodies [23] , [24] , Durvalumab (DUR) was the first humanized monoclonal IgG1 anti PD-L1 agent to yield promising anti-tumor response in heavily pre-treated, PD-L1 positive HNSCC patients with R/M disease [25] . The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI’s) in the context of R/M setting anticipates the potential implications of integrating immunotherapy into the therapeutic armamentarium of locally advanced disease.…”

Durable intracranial and extracranial response to nivolumab with appearance of secondary resistance in a heavily pretreated patient with head and neck cancer

“…Treatment with nivolumab was continued beyond progression due to the slow growing nature of the local and right adrenal lesions in a patient whose performance status had not deteriorated but, in fact, improved since the start of the treatment. 12 Although the patient is currently asymptomatic and is enjoying an active life, due to the substantial progression of the local relapse, palliative reirradiation will be discussed with him after explaining the potential benefits and risks.…”