Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer: Present and future. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fasano, Morena; Corte, Carminia Maria Della; Liello, Raimondo Di; Viscardi, Giuseppe; Sparano, Francesca; Iacovino, Maria Lucia; Paragliola, Fernando; Piccolo, Antonio; Napolitano, Stefania; Martini, Giulia; Morgillo, Floriana; Cappabianca, Salvatore; Ciardiello, Fortunato
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology. Volume 174(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: PD-1 Programmed cell death protein 1 -- PD-L1 Programmed cell death Ligand-1 -- CTLA-4 Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 -- HNC Head and neck cancers -- NK Natural killer -- APC Antigen presenting cells -- EGFR Epidermal growth factor receptor -- STAT3 Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 -- HPV Human papillomavirus -- Tregs Regulatory T-lymphocytes -- IL-10 Interleukin 10 -- TGF-β Transforming Growth Factor-beta -- TIM-3 Mucin domain-containing protein 3 -- LAG-3 Lymphocyte activation gene-3 -- IDO-1 Indoleamine- 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 -- ADCC Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity -- MAPK Mitogen-activated protein kinase -- PTEN Phosphoinositide phosphatase -- HNSCC Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma -- OSCC Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma -- RT Radiation therapy -- ICIs Immune checkpoint inhibitors -- Ig Immunoglobulin -- ASCO American Society of Clinical Oncology -- pTR-2 Pathologic tumor response-2 -- pCR Pathologic complete response -- DFS Disease free survival -- CT Chemotherapy -- TE Tumor effect -- PD Progressive disease -- LA Locally advanced -- ESMO European Society for Medical Oncology -- ORR Overall response rate -- PR Partial response -- SD Stable disease -- CIAO Checkpoint Inhibitors Assessment in Oropharynx cancer -- TLR8 Toll-like receptor 8 -- PFS Progression free survival -- SoC Standard of care -- EFS Event-free survival -- OS Overall survival -- TMB Tumor mutational burden -- 5FU 5-fluorouracil -- OPC Oropharyngeal cancer -- HR Hazard ratio -- irAEs Immune-related adverse events -- MHNCS Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium -- IMRT Intensity-modulated radiation therapy -- DLT Dose-limiting toxicity -- AEs Adverse events -- SAEs Serious adverse events -- DMC Data Monitoring Committee -- R/M Recurrent or metastatic -- QoL Quality of life -- FDA Food and Drug Administration -- ITT Intention-to-treat -- CPS Combined positive score -- AACR American Association for Cancer Research -- DOR Duration of response -- efti Eftilagimod alpha -- CR Complete response -- VEGFR Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor -- FGFR Fibroblast growth factor receptor -- PDGFR-α Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alfa -- RET Rearranged during transfection -- ECOG Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group -- PS Performance status -- ICOS Inducible T cells co-stimulator -- ICOSL Inducible T cells co-stimulator ligand -- BOR Best overall response -- TPS Tumor proportion score -- IHC Immunohistochemistry -- MSI Microsatellite instability -- MSI-H MSI-high -- GEP Gene-expression profiling; HNSCC -- Immunotherapy -- ICI -- R/M HNSCC -- ADCC -- Immunotherapy biomarkers; Oncology -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103679
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-8428

Abstract

Abstract: Immunotherapy has changed the treatment landscape of Head and Neck cancer (HNC). Different immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 axis have been approved for different disease settings and many others, alone or in combination, are currently under investigation. Otherwise, as in other cancer types, efficacy, and resistance mechanisms, are not clearly understood. Considering the heterogeneity of the benefit reported in clinical trials, cost-efficacy analysis and the development of an effective patient selection are encouraged. Different pathways involving innate immunity, regulatory T lymphocytes and microbiome are emerging as new potential biomarkers, supported by preclinical and translational data. In this review we report current evidence on immunotherapy in HNC with updates from the main 2021 oncology events as ASCO, AACR and ESMO meetings. We focus on clinical trials results of single agent and combination immunotherapy in different clinical scenario, from (neo)adjuvant to metastatic setting, describing also novel evidence about efficacy and resistance biomarkers. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Immune checkpoint inhibitors changed treatment landscape of head and neck cancer; Novel combinations of immunotherapies or targeted agents are under investigation; Role of predictive biomarkers remain uncertain.