SUPREME-HN: a retrospective biomarker study assessing the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Biomarcador; Carcinoma de células escamosas de cabeza y cuello; PD-L1Biomarker; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; PD-L1Biomarcador; Carcinoma de cèl·lules escamoses de cap i coll; PD-L1Background Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression on tumor cells (TCs) is associated with improved survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with immunotherapy, although its role as a prognostic factor is controversial. This study investigates whether tumoral expression of PD-L1 is a prognostic marker in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC treated with standard chemotherapy. Methods This retrospective, multicenter, noninterventional study assessed PD-L1 expression on archival R/M HNSCC tissue samples using the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay. PD-L1 high was defined as PD-L1 staining of ≥ 25% TC, with exploratory scoring at TC ≥ 10% and TC ≥ 50%. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prognostic value of PD-L1 status in terms of overall survival (OS) in patients with R/M HNSCC. Results 412 patients (median age, 62.0 years; 79.9% male; 88.2% Caucasian) were included from 19 sites in seven countries. 132 patients (32.0%) had TC ≥ 25% PD-L1 expression; 199 patients (48.3%) and 85 patients (20.6%) had TC ≥ 10% and ≥ 50%, respectively. OS did not differ significantly across PD-L1 expression (at TC ≥ 25% cutoff median OS: 8.2 months vs TC < 25%, 10.1 months, P = 0.55) or the ≥ 10% and ≥ 50% cutoffs (at TC ≥ 10%, median OS: 9.6 months vs TC < 10%, 9.4 months, P = 0.32, and at TC ≥ 50%, median OS 7.9 vs TC < 50%, 10.0 months, P = 0.39, respectively). Conclusions PD-L1 expression, assessed using the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay, was not prognostic of OS in patients with R/M HNSCC treated with standard of care chemotherapies.This study was sponsored by AstraZeneca. The protocol for this study was developed by the sponsor (AstraZeneca) and advisors. Data were collected collaboratively by the sponsor and clinical investigators. Statisticians employed by the sponsor analyzed the data. All authors participated in the preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Pembrolizumab Alone or With Chemotherapy for Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in KEYNOTE-048: Subgroup Analysis by Programmed Death Ligand-1 Combined Positive Score

Quimioteràpia; Carcinoma de cèl·lules escamoses de cap i collQuimioterapia; Carcinoma de células escamosas de cabeza y cuelloChemotherapy; Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaPURPOSE The phase III KEYNOTE-048 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02358031) trial of pembrolizumab in recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) included planned efficacy analyses in the total population and in participants with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 1 and CPS ≥ 20. To further characterize the predictive value of PD-L1 expression on outcome, we conducted efficacy analyses in the PD-L1 CPS < 1 and CPS 1-19 subgroups in KEYNOTE-048. METHODS Participants with R/M HNSCC and no prior systemic therapy for R/M disease were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab-chemotherapy, or cetuximab-chemotherapy. Post hoc efficacy analyses of the PD-L1 CPS < 1 and CPS 1-19 subgroups were performed. RESULTS Of 882 participants enrolled, 128 had PD-L1 CPS < 1 and 373 had CPS 1-19. For pembrolizumab versus cetuximab-chemotherapy, the median overall survival was 7.9 versus 11.3 months in the PD-L1 CPS < 1 subgroup (hazard ratio [HR], 1.51 [95% CI, 0.96 to 2.37]) and 10.8 versus 10.1 months in the CPS 1-19 subgroup (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.66 to 1.12]). For pembrolizumab-chemotherapy versus cetuximab-chemotherapy, the median overall survival was 11.3 versus 10.7 months in the PD-L1 CPS < 1 subgroup (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.76 to 1.94]) and 12.7 versus 9.9 months in the CPS 1-19 subgroup (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.54 to 0.94]). CONCLUSION Increased efficacy of pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab-chemotherapy was observed with increasing PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 CPS < 1 subgroup analysis was limited by small participant numbers. Results from the PD-L1 CPS 1-19 subgroup support previous findings of treatment benefit with pembrolizumab monotherapy and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 tumors. Although PD-L1 expression is informative, exploration of additional predictive biomarkers is needed for low PD-L1–expressing HNSCC.Funding for this research was provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck & Co Inc, Kenilworth, NJ

Pembrolizumab With or Without Chemotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study

Pembrolizumab; Carcinoma de células escamosas de cabeza y cuelloPembrolizumab; Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaPembrolizumab; Carcinoma de cèl·lules escamoses de cap i collPURPOSE Pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy demonstrated efficacy in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in KEYNOTE-048. Post hoc analysis of long-term efficacy and progression-free survival on next-line therapy (PFS2) is presented. METHODS Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab-chemotherapy, or cetuximab-chemotherapy. Efficacy was evaluated in programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 20, CPS ≥ 1, and total populations, with no multiplicity or alpha adjustment. RESULTS The median study follow-up was 45.0 months (interquartile range, 41.0-49.2; n = 882). At data cutoff (February 18, 2020), overall survival improved with pembrolizumab in the PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.81) and CPS ≥ 1 populations (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.89) and was noninferior in the total population (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.97). Overall survival improved with pembrolizumab-chemotherapy in the PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20 (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.84), CPS ≥ 1 (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.78), and total (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.85) populations. The objective response rate on second-course pembrolizumab was 27.3% (3 of 11). PFS2 improved with pembrolizumab in the PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20 (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.84) and CPS ≥ 1 (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.95) populations and with pembrolizumab-chemotherapy in the PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20 (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.86), CPS ≥ 1 (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.81), and total (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.88) populations. PFS2 was similar after pembrolizumab and longer after pembrolizumab-chemotherapy on next-line taxanes and shorter after pembrolizumab and similar after pembrolizumab-chemotherapy on next-line nontaxanes. CONCLUSION With a 4-year follow-up, first-line pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy continued to demonstrate survival benefit versus cetuximab-chemotherapy in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Patients responded well to subsequent treatment after pembrolizumab-based therapy

ICO-ICS Praxis para el tratamiento médico y con irradiación del cáncer de orofaringe, hipofaringe, laringe y nasofaringe

Tractament mèdic; Tractament amb irradiació; Càncer de cap i coll; Carcinoma de nasofaringeTratamiento médico; Tratamiento con irradiación; Cáncer de cabeza y cuello; Carcinoma de nasofaringeMedical treatment; Irradiation treatment; Head and neck cancer; Nasopharyngeal carcinomaL’anomenat càncer de cap i coll engloba un grup de tumors malignes localitzats en diverses zones de les vies aerodigestives superiors: sins paranasals, nasofaringe, orofaringe (amígdala, paladar tou, base de la llengua), hipofaringe, laringe, cavitat oral (mucosa oral, geniva, paladar dur, llengua i terra de la boca) i glàndules salivals. L'objectiu d'aquest document és - Desenvolupar, difondre, implementar i avaluar resultats de la ICO-ICSPraxi per al tractament del càncer d’orofaringe, hipofaringe, laringe i nasofaringe. - Disminuir la variabilitat terapèutica entre els pacients tractats en els diversos centres d’aquesta institució. - Implementar els resultats de la terapèutica en els pacients amb càncer de càvum, orofaringe, hipofaringe o laringe tractats d’acord amb les recomanacions d’aquesta guia

ICO-ICS Praxis para el tratamiento médico y con irradiación del cáncer de orofaringe, hipofaringe, laringe y nasofaringe

Tractament mèdic; Tractament amb irradiació; Càncer de cap i coll; Carcinoma de nasofaringeTratamiento médico; Tratamiento con irradiación; Cáncer de cabeza y cuello; Carcinoma de nasofaringeMedical treatment; Irradiation treatment; Head and neck cancer; Nasopharyngeal carcinomaL’anomenat càncer de cap i coll engloba un grup de tumors malignes localitzats en diverses zones de les vies aerodigestives superiors: sins paranasals, nasofaringe, orofaringe (amígdala, paladar tou, base de la llengua), hipofaringe, laringe, cavitat oral (mucosa oral, geniva, paladar dur, llengua i terra de la boca) i glàndules salivals. L'objectiu d'aquest document és - Desenvolupar, difondre, implementar i avaluar resultats de la ICO-ICSPraxi per al tractament del càncer d’orofaringe, hipofaringe, laringe i nasofaringe. - Disminuir la variabilitat terapèutica entre els pacients tractats en els diversos centres d’aquesta institució. - Implementar els resultats de la terapèutica en els pacients amb càncer de càvum, orofaringe, hipofaringe o laringe tractats d’acord amb les recomanacions d’aquesta guia