Samuel Regan, MD, and Benjamin Rosen, PhD, on De-escalating Radiotherapy for HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer
2024 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium
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).
The ASCO Post Staff
Christopher A. Barker, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses phase II study results showing that patients with locally advanced, unresectable basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck experienced improved quality of life after induction and concurrent vismodegib with curative-intent radiation treatment. According to Dr. Barker, the data on this strategy may provide a beneficial benchmark for clinical practice (Abstract 9).
The ASCO Post Staff
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).
The ASCO Post Staff
Marcin R. Dzienis, MBBS, of Australia’s Gold Coast University Hospital, discusses the final analysis of KEYNOTE-B10, a phase IV study in which patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) received a first-line combination regimen of pembrolizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel. The regimen demonstrated durable antitumor activity, irrespective of patients’ PD-L1 status (Abstract 3).
The ASCO Post Staff
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).
The ASCO Post Staff
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).
