Optimal timing of surgery in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Our goal was to evaluate the influence of the interlude between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NAIC) and surgery on both pathologic responses and surgical outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

Patients undergoing surgery for HNSCC following NAIC were retrospectively enrolled and determined based on the time to surgery (TTS). Impact of TTS on major pathologic response (mPR), pathologic complete response (pCR), surgical complication and 3-year disease free survival (DFS) was evaluated.

Results

A total of 356 patients were enrolled. 225 patients (63.2%) achieved a mPR, among whom a pCR was achieved in 104 patients (29.2%). When compared to the TTS<1 week group, patients with a TTS of 1-2 weeks and those with a TTS of 2-3 weeks exh

SUBMITTER: Seng H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12920233 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature