PD-L1 testing patterns in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) in the U.S.

Background: Pembrolizumab with/without platinum + 5-FU is approved for the first-line (1L) treatment of R/M HNSCC, and its monotherapy use requires PD-L1 Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥ 1. We aimed to understand PD-L1 testing patterns and associations with patient characteristics and treatment choice in R/M HNSCC.

Methods: Adults with R/M HNSCC initiating 1L systemic therapy were included from a U.

Topological functional network analysis of cortical blood flow in hyperacute ischemic rats.

Acute cerebral ischemia alters brain network connectivity, leading to notable increases in both anatomical and functional connectivity while observing a reduction in metabolic connectivity. However, alterations of the cerebral blood flow (CBF) based functional connectivity remain unclear. We collected continuous CBF images using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) technology to monitor ischemic occlusion-reperfusion progression through occlusion of the left carotid artery.

Prospective Trial of Biomarker-Guided Surveillance for HPV-positive Oropharynx Cancer Using Plasma Tumor Tissue Modified Viral HPV DNA.

Background: Observational studies suggest circulating tumor HPV DNA may facilitate early detection of recurrent HPV-positive oropharynx cancer (OPC). We prospectively investigated whether biomarker-guided surveillance detects recurrence sooner than standard-of-care.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled patients evaluated for HPV-positive OPC at a single center 11/2020-4/2023 undergoing curative-intent treatment in a single-arm cohort study.

T cell dynamics with neoadjuvant immunotherapy in head and neck cancer.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are being tested as neoadjuvant therapies in various solid tumours, including in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with promising results. Key findings thus far include that this approach is well-tolerated with favourable clinical outcomes including promising pathological response rates in initial studies. Pathological responses are likely to be increased by combining other agents with anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies.