Low-dose nivolumab plus induction chemotherapy for locally advanced or unresectable head and neck cancer is associated with high response rates and conversion to definitive therapy.

ABSTRACT: Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) unresectable at presentation has a dismal survival when radical surgery or definitive chemoradiation is not possible. This ambispective cohort study evaluated the addition of low-dose nivolumab to induction chemotherapy (IC) for locally advanced, unresectable or borderline resectable HNSCC. 111 patients with stage III-IVB disease received IC with low-dose nivolumab (< 240 mg or < 3 mg kg^-1 biweekly). The median nivolumab dose was 0.51 mg kg^-1 biweekly, with a median of 3 doses. Overall response rate per RECIST v1.1 was 75.3% among evaluable patients. 31.6% of oral cavity tumours were rendered resectable, with 32% achieving pathological complete response (pCR). In other sites, the conversion rate to radic

SUBMITTER: Georgy JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508025 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature