A new study published in JAMA Oncology offers hope to patients facing recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer. Led by Nabil Saba, MD, co-director of the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, the research explores the combination of immunotherapy drug nivolumab with second-time radiation therapy. The findings suggest that this novel approach could potentially improve the chances of halting cancer progression compared to current standard treatments, while also being well tolerated.
Patients facing recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer often confront a harsh reality: limited treatment options and a high risk of disease progression. Saba and a team of researchers aim to address this challenge by investigating the potential of combining nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug, with second-time radiation therapy. The study, a phase II trial conducted across multiple centers, yields several key findings:
- The combination of nivolumab and second-time radiation therapy is well tolerated by patients.
- Patients treated with this combination show a promising trend towards better disease control, with a potential increase in the likelihood of no disease progression at one year compared to historical patients who received second-time radiation alone.
- Biomarkers related to T cells in the blood show promise in predicting the likelihood of disease progression, providing valuable insights into patient outcomes.
"This study represents a significant step forward in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer," Saba states. "Our findings suggest that adding immunotherapy to a second course of radiation therapy could improve disease control."
The research fills a crucial gap in existing knowledge and could help lead to more treatment options in the future. "This is the first published report of its kind in recurrent head and neck cancer," Saba emphasizes. "Our work builds on the approval of nivolumab for advanced head and neck cancer, underscoring the importance of further investigation in future studies."
Discussions are already underway to explore more research in this area. Saba expresses optimism about the potential impact of these findings on future treatment strategies. "We are committed to advancing our understanding of this therapy through larger, confirmatory studies," he states.
The study was conducted in collaboration with co-investigators Shlomo Koyfman, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Stuart Wong, MD, from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Co-investigators from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University include Rafi Ahmed, PhD, Yong Teng, PhD, William Stokes, MD, and Nicole Schmitt, MD, who played integral roles in the study's implementation and analysis, as well as Mark McDonald, MD, Dong Moon Shin, MD, Conor Steuer, MD, and Yuan Liu, PhD, MS.