Response-Adaptive Surgical Timing in neoadjuvant immunotherapy demonstrates enhanced pathologic treatment response in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: We evaluated whether IDO-inhibitor BMS986205 (IDOi) + PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab enhanced T-cell activity and augmented immune-mediated antitumor responses in untreated, resectable HNSCC. We employed response-adaptive surgical timing to identify responders to immunotherapy and enhance their response.

Patients And Methods: Patients with HNSCC were 3:1 randomized to receive nivolumab with or without BMS986205 PO daily (NCT03854032).

Punctuational evolution is pervasive in distal site metastatic colonization.

The evolution of metastasis represents a lethal stage of cancer progression. Yet, the evolutionary kinetics of metastatic disease remain unresolved. Here, using single cell CRISPR-Cas9 lineage tracing data, we show that in metastatic disease, gradual molecular evolution is punctuated by episodes of rapid evolutionary change associated with lineage divergence.

Effect of preoperative programmed death-1 or programmed death ligand-1 immune check point inhibition on complications after surgery for primary head and neck cancer.

Background: There is sparse literature on the effect of preoperative immunotherapy on complications after surgery for primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The objectives are to compare complication rates in patients receiving surgery with and without neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (nICI) for primary HNSCC and to evaluate factors associated with increased odds of surgical complications.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent ablation and free flap reconstruction or transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for primary HNSCC between 2017-2021 was conducted.

Nivolumab and ipilimumab in combination with radiotherapy in patients with high-risk locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab has been approved for the treatment of multiple solid tumors. This was a phase I study investigating definitive radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with nivolumab and ipilimumab for the treatment of locally advanced (LA) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed, stage IVA-IVB SCCHN eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy received nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks for a total of 17 doses) and ipilimumab (1 mg/kg every 6 weeks for a total of 6 doses) starting 2 weeks prior to radiotherapy.

Systemic and Intracranial Outcomes With First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic NSCLC and Baseline Brain Metastases From CheckMate 227 Part 1.

Introduction: In CheckMate 227 Part 1, nivolumab plus ipilimumab prolonged overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy in patients with metastatic NSCLC, regardless of tumor programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Here, we report post hoc exploratory systemic and intracranial efficacy outcomes and safety by baseline brain metastasis status at 5 years' minimum follow-up.

Methods: Treatment-naive adults with stage IV or recurrent NSCLC without EGFR or ALK alterations, including asymptomatic patients with treated brain metastases, were enrolled.