Nabil F. Saba, MD, of Emory University, discusses phase II study results suggesting parenteral administration of TK-90 may be an effective strategy for preventing radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Abstract 10).
Dan P. Zandberg, MD, of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses study results showing that, although efficacy was low with both nivolumab plus ipilimumab and nivolumab plus relatlimab in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC), selected patients had a numerically higher disease control rate, with a longer duration of stable disease (Abstract 4).
Pooja Karukonda, MD, of Duke University Medical Center, discusses findings from the PaRTNer study, which addressed the large financial burden faced by patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, particularly older, non-White, female, and low-income patients. Dr. Karukonda discusses some ways to counter this adverse effect (Abstract 13).
Samuel Regan, MD, and Benjamin Rosen, PhD, both of the University of Michigan, discuss results from a phase II trial showing the possibility of de-escalating chemoradiation treatment for patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, based on an FDG-PET imaging biomarker. The data suggest that patients may experience few locoregional recurrences and less toxicity (Abstract 16).
Nabil F. Saba, MD, of Emory University, discusses study findings on 2-year survival rates in patients with recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who received pembrolizumab plus cabozantinib. The progression-free survival rate of 32% and the overall survival rate of 55% suggest a durable clinical activity of this combination therapy (Abstract 2).
Evan M. Graboyes, MD, MPH, of the Medical University of South Carolina, discusses the results of the NDURE study, which explored the delays in starting postoperative radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer and ways to improve the timeliness and equity of treatment. Delays in this therapy are associated with higher recurrence and poorer survival in this population (Abstract LBA2).
