A group of researchers from the University of Chicago has pioneered a novel strategy for addressing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that is not HPV-related. The scientists integrated immunotherapy with both chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy to enhance patient survival rates while preserving their standard of living, as reported by news-medical.net.
This disease predominantly affects older individuals with histories of heavy alcohol and tobacco use. Due to a lack of distinctive early warning signs, diagnosis frequently occurs only after the cancer has progressed to stage three or four.
Conventional therapeutic modalities, such as chemoradiotherapy and surgical intervention, offer only modest gains in extending life. Such treatments often compromise patients’ quality of life, as the malignancy negatively impacts both speech and swallowing functions.
“Immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors, has transformed the treatment landscape for recurrent or metastatic head and neck tumors, leading to better survival statistics. Nevertheless, up until now, they have not played a major part in achieving complete remission,” stated the study’s primary investigator, Ari Rosenberg, MD, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the university, as quoted by the publication.
The clinical trial involved 36 individuals diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer. The specialists administered a treatment protocol consisting of three rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with the immunotherapy agent nivolumab, followed by chemoradiotherapy. This approach resulted in a deep response from the body in 53% of the participants. Furthermore, the experts observed improved longevity and a reduction in the incidence of severe adverse side effects.
Previously, American investigators released findings from a long-term follow-up study tracking the health outcomes of women who had undergone at least one round of chemotherapy. The effects stemming from the aggressive cancer treatment had demonstrably altered the subsequent lives of these patients.
About the Author
