Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Pembrolizumab Outcomes in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To determine the relationship between pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and 6-month progression-free survival (PFS)/2-year overall survival (OS) among patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) oral cavity cancer on pembrolizumab.

Study Design: This study was a retrospective, observational study performed at a tertiary care academic center.

Setting: Participants included patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) who began pembrolizumab treatment at the University of California, San Francisco between May 2016 and May 2022.

CYLD Alterations Are Associated With Metastasis and Poor Prognosis in Human Papilloma Virus-Positive Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an emerging epidemic and a subset of HPV-positive patients experience aggressive disease with metastases. The CYLD gene is frequently altered in HPV-positive HNSCC, but the role of these alterations in disease progression is poorly understood.

Methods: We identified 11 HPV-positive HNSCC patients with CYLD alterations and assessed their clinical course.

Immune-related encephalitis after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized cancer treatment but can trigger immune-related encephalitis. We report one of the largest case series of patients with immune-related encephalitis and review of the literature.

Methods: Retrospective series of patients with immune-related encephalitis and literature review.

Comparative Uptake Patterns of Radioactive Iodine and [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancers.

Metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) represents a molecularly heterogeneous group of cancers with varying radioactive iodine (RAI) and [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake patterns potentially correlated with the degree of de-differentiation through the so-called "flip-flop" phenomenon. However, it is unknown if RAI and FDG uptake patterns correlate with molecular status or metastatic site. A retrospective analysis of metastatic DTC patients (n = 46) with radioactive 131-iodine whole body scan (WBS) and FDG-PET imaging between 2008 and 2022 was performed.

PRT543, a protein arginine methyltransferase 5 inhibitor, in patients with advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma: An open-label, phase I dose-expansion study.

Objectives: Currently, no systemic treatments are approved for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). PRT543, a protein arginine methyltransferase 5 inhibitor that downregulates NOTCH1 and MYB signalling in tumours, is a potential candidate for R/M ACC treatment. We report the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of PRT543 in a dose-expansion cohort of patients with R/M ACC.

Carboplatin and paclitaxel after anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody therapy in recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.

Background: The impact of concurrent chemotherapy and immunotherapy has been well characterized in patients with recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-SCCHN). Here, we report outcomes in patients treated sequentially with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Methods: Patients with RM-SCCHN treated with ICI followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel at a single institution were identified retrospectively.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in salivary gland cancers treated with pembrolizumab.

Background: A minority of patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) salivary gland cancers (SGCs) benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), necessitating reliable biomarkers for ICI response prediction.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of R/M SGC patients treated with pembrolizumab between 2016 and 2022, with a primary outcome of 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) and secondary outcome of 2-year overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were employed.

Treatment Modality Impact on Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

Objective: To prospectively compare the impact of treatment modality on patient-reported quality of life (QOL) in human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC).

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic medical center.

A Phase II Trial of Rivoceranib, an Oral Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Inhibitor, for Recurrent or Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

Purpose: This open-label, single-arm, phase II study evaluated the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) rivoceranib in patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had confirmed disease progression per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) with ≥20% increase in radiologically or clinically measurable lesions or appearance of new lesions within the preceding 6 months. Patients received oral rivoceranib 700 mg once daily.

Craniofacial Phenotype in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Impact on Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Adherence.

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is an important treatment tool for patients with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and adherence to PAP significantly affects treatment outcomes. Disease severity, adverse effects, and psychosocial factors are known to predict medication adherence. Cephalometric parameters have been reported to positively correlate with upper airway collapse.

A prospective evaluation of neck and shoulder function following treatments of early-stage human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx cancer.

Objectives: To compare post-treatment neck and shoulder function between human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC) treatments.

Design: Prospective, repeated-measures study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Biomarkers predictive of response to pembrolizumab in head and neck cancer.

Background: We performed an integrated biomarker evaluation in pembrolizumab-treated patients with R/M HNSCC enrolled in KEYNOTE-012 or KEYNOTE-055. The relationship between biomarkers and HPV status was explored.

Methods: We evaluated PD-L1 (combined positive score [CPS]), TMB, T-cell-inflamed gene expression profile (Tcell GEP), and HPV status.

Approaches to the Management of Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

High rates of recurrence and distant metastasis are a foremost challenge in the management of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), occurring in approximately 40% of all ACC patients. Despite the morbidity and mortality resulting from recurrent/metastatic (R/M) disease, there are no FDA-approved systemic agents for these patients. In this review, we summarize pertinent ACC pathophysiology and its implications for different systemic treatment regimens in R/M ACC.

Tumour-agnostic efficacy and safety of selpercatinib in patients with RET fusion-positive solid tumours other than lung or thyroid tumours (LIBRETTO-001): a phase 1/2, open-label, basket trial.

Background: Selpercatinib is a first-in-class, highly selective RET kinase inhibitor with CNS activity that has shown efficacy in RET fusion-positive lung and thyroid cancers. RET fusions occur rarely in other tumour types. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of selpercatinib in a diverse group of patients with RET fusion-positive non-lung or thyroid advanced solid tumours (ie, a tumour-agnostic population).

Clinical Trial Development in TP53-Mutated Locally Advanced and Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

TP53 mutation is the most frequent genetic event in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), found in more than 80% of patients with human papillomavirus-negative disease. As mutations in the TP53 gene are associated with worse outcomes in HNSCC, novel therapeutic approaches are needed for patients with TP53-mutated tumors. The National Cancer Institute sponsored a Clinical Trials Planning Meeting to address the issues of identifying and developing clinical trials for patients with TP53 mutations.

Phase II Study of Enzalutamide for Patients With Androgen Receptor-Positive Salivary Gland Cancers (Alliance A091404).

Purpose: The androgen receptor (AR) is expressed (+) in a subset of salivary gland cancers (SGCs). This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of the antiandrogen enzalutamide in AR+ SGC.

Methods: Patients with locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic AR+ SGCs were enrolled.

Non-Iodine-Avid Disease Is Highly Prevalent in Distant Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancer With Papillary Histology.

Context: Patients with radioactive iodine (RAI) refractory metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have poor prognosis. Early identification of RAI refractoriness may improve care.

Objective: This work aimed to characterize DTC patients with distant metastases (DM) at diagnosis who presented with non-iodine-avid disease.

Influence of tumor mutational burden, inflammatory gene expression profile, and PD-L1 expression on response to pembrolizumab in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: To characterize genomic determinants of response to pembrolizumab in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the KEYNOTE-012 study.

Methods: Associations between biomarkers (tumor mutational burden (TMB), neoantigen load (NL), 18-gene T-cell-inflamed gene expression profile (TcellGEP), and PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS)) and clinical outcomes with pembrolizumab were assessed in patients with R/M HNSCC (n=192). Tumor human papillomavirus (HPV) status was also evaluated with the use of p16 immunohistochemistry and whole exome sequencing (WES; HPV, mapping >20 HPV reads) in pretreatment tumor samples (n=106).

Effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on cognitive impairment in colorectal cancer: evidence from Korean National Health Insurance Database Cohort.

Objectives: We investigated the risk of chemotherapy-related and radiotherapy-related cognitive impairment in colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: Medical use data of colorectal cancer patients were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Database from 2004 to 2018. We randomly selected 40% of all colorectal cancer patients (n=148,848).

Treatment of Fanconi Anemia-Associated Head and Neck Cancer: Opportunities to Improve Outcomes.

Fanconi anemia, the most frequent genetic cause of bone marrow failure, is characterized by an extreme predilection toward multiple malignancies, including a greater than 500-fold incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) relative to the general population. Fanconi anemia-associated HNSCC and esophageal SCC (FA-HNSCC) often present at advanced stages with poor survival. Surgical resection remains the primary treatment for FA-HNSCC, and there is often great reluctance to administer systemic agents and/or radiotherapy to these patients given their susceptibility to DNA damage.

Molecular Markers that Matter in Salivary Malignancy.

Despite aggressive initial interventions, recurrent/metastatic salivary gland cancer is not uncommon. Standard chemotherapy has not been shown to have durable clinical benefits. Several potential molecular markers have been identified in different histologic subtypes of salivary cancers.