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Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Strategies in HPV-Related Head-and-Neck Cancer

  • HEAD AND NECK: Human Papilloma Virus Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (WK Mydlarz and C Fakhry, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Herein, we review current evidence and future directions of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in HPV-related head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by describing published data and ongoing clinical trials.

Recent Findings

Although HNSCCs have shown response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent/metastatic disease, a limited number of patients benefit from this treatment. There is an expanding interest in clarifying the clinical benefit of immunotherapy in earlier stage disease setting including at initial presentation. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for HPV-related HNSCCs represents a rational approach, as these cancers bear strong viral antigens.

Summary

The majority of patients with HPV-related HNSCC have good prognosis, and treatment de-intensification strategies are under evaluation to decrease toxicity and maintain efficacy. On the other hand, a subset of patients with HPV-related HNSCC have a poorer prognosis, and additional treatment options are needed to improve outcome. Multiple clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate whether neoadjuvant immunotherapy will achieve these goals.

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Funding

Dr. Adkins reports grants and personal fees from Merck, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Celgene; grants from Novartis, AstraZeneca, Atara, CellCeutix, Celldex, Enzychem, Gliknik, BMS, Kura, Medimmune, Exelixis, Innate, Matrix Biomed, and Polaris; and personal fees from Cue Biopharma and Loxo Oncology, outside the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    Shin Saito, Hirofumi Shibata & Ravindra Uppaluri

  2. Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Shin Saito

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan

    Hirofumi Shibata

  4. Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Douglas Adkins

  5. Department of Medicine/Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Douglas Adkins

  6. Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    Ravindra Uppaluri

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  1. Shin Saito
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  2. Hirofumi Shibata
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  3. Douglas Adkins
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  4. Ravindra Uppaluri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravindra Uppaluri.

Ethics declarations

Dr. Uppaluri reports grants and personal fees from Merck, during the conduct of the study, and personal fees from Kerafast, outside the submitted work.

Conflict of Interest

Shin Saito and Hirofumi Shibata declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Head and Neck: Human Papilloma Virus Associated Head-and-neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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Saito, S., Shibata, H., Adkins, D. et al. Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Strategies in HPV-Related Head-and-Neck Cancer. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 10, 108–115 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-021-00389-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-021-00389-9

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