The use of pembrolizumab monotherapy for the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the UK.

Pembrolizumab has received approval in the UK as first-line monotherapy for recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC (R/M HNSCC) following the results of the KEYNOTE-048 trial, which demonstrated a longer overall survival (OS) in comparison to the EXTREME chemotherapy regimen in patients with a combined positive score (CPS) ≥1. In this article, we provide retrospective real-world data on the role of pembrolizumab monotherapy as first-line systemic therapy for HNSCC across 18 centers in the UK from March 20, 2020 to May 31, 2021. 211 patients were included, and in the efficacy analysis, the objective response rate (ORR) was 24.

Impact of remoteness and rurality on the treatment and survival of patients with glioblastoma in the north of Scotland.

Background: The geographical catchment area served by the Neurosurgical Unit in Aberdeen, Scotland is the largest in the United Kingdom. We examined whether a distance-decay effect on survival exists for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, who have to travel substantial distances for neurosurgical and oncological treatment in the north of Scotland.

Methods: Electronic medical records of adult patients with glioblastoma, referred for treatment between 2007 and 2018, who underwent surgical resection were reviewed.

CompARE: study protocol for a phase III randomised controlled platform trial comparing alternative regimens for escalating treatment of intermediate and high-risk oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Patients with intermediate and high-risk oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) have poorer response to standard treatment and poorer overall survival compared to low-risk OPC. CompARE is designed to test alternative approaches to intensified treatment for these patients to improve survival.

Methods: CompARE is a pragmatic phase III, open-label, multicenter randomised controlled trial with an adaptive multi-arm, multi-stage design and an integrated QuinteT Recruitment Intervention.

Vinblastine monotherapy induction prior to radiotherapy for patients with intracranial germinoma during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Patients with localized intracranial germinoma have excellent survival. Reducing treatment burden and long-term sequelae is a priority. Intensive inpatient chemotherapy (e.

Centralised RECIST Assessment and Clinical Outcomes with Lenvatinib Monotherapy in Recurrent and Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer of secretory glands. Recurrent or metastatic (R/M) ACC is generally considered resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Recent phase II studies have reported improved objective response rates (ORR) with the use of the multi-kinase inhibitor lenvatinib.

Simultaneous double laryngeal tumours: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Leiomyosarcomas are soft tissue tumours that rarely occur in the larynx. This case report describes the presentation and management of a 77-year-old man referred to the otolaryngology clinic with hoarseness who was found to have a large supraglottic leiomyosarcoma after panendoscopy and biopsies. He subsequently underwent laryngectomy for treatment of this tumour but, unexpectedly, the histological analysis of the laryngectomy specimen revealed a second primary tumour in the larynx-a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Radiotherapy plus cisplatin or cetuximab in low-risk human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (De-ESCALaTE HPV): an open-label randomised controlled phase 3 trial.

Background: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer, a disease affecting younger patients, is rapidly increasing. Cetuximab, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, has been proposed for treatment de-escalation in this setting to reduce the toxicity of standard cisplatin treatment, but no randomised evidence exists for the efficacy of this strategy.

Methods: We did an open-label randomised controlled phase 3 trial at 32 head and neck treatment centres in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the UK, in patients aged 18 years or older with HPV-positive low-risk oropharyngeal cancer (non-smokers or lifetime smokers with a smoking history of <10 pack-years).

In vitro radiosensitisation by trabectedin in human cancer cell lines.

Purpose: To examine the potential radiosensitising properties of trabectedin (ET-743, Yondelis).

Methods And Materials: In vitro chemosensitivity was assessed in four tumour cell lines (DU145, HeLa, HT29, HOP62) by the crystal violet method. IC10s and IC50s were established for 1-h, 24-h and 7-day (continuous) exposure times.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: randomized trial comparing oral uracil and tegafur and oral leucovorin vs. intravenous 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.

Purpose: To compare, in a randomized trial, 5-fluorouracil (FU) plus leucovorin (LV) (FU+LV) vs. oral uracil and tegafur (UFT) plus LV (UFT+LV) given concomitantly with preoperative irradiation in patients with cT3-4 or N+ rectal cancer.

Methods And Materials: A total of 155 patients were entered onto the trial.