Search

Background/aim: The predictive role of hematological markers in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN) treated with pembrolizumab remains unclear., Patients and Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to investigate the predictive impact of the pre-treatment hematological markers neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, and the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with R/M SCCHN treated with pembrolizumab. From December 2019 to February 2022, 119 and 28 patients were treated with pembrolizumab alone and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, respectively. The optimal cut-off point of dichotomized hematological markers was calculated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models with adjustment for potential confounders., Results: In the pembrolizumab monotherapy group, patients with higher NLR, PLR, and mGPS and a lower CALLY index showed significantly shorter OS after adjustment for potential confounders. In addition, all hematological markers examined in this study tended to be associated with clinical response, such as overall response rate or disease control rate (DCR); in particular, a lower CALLY index and higher mGPS were significantly associated with poor DCR. In the pembrolizumab with chemotherapy group, these hematological markers had a similar association with OS but not with clinical response., Conclusion: Pre-treatment NLR, PLR, CALLY index, and mGPS might be predictive markers of survival in patients with R/M SCCHN treated with pembrolizumab., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: There are no real-world comparative data of nivolumab doses of 3 mg/kg and 240 mg/body for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). We investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in treating recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN) at different doses using real-world data., Patients and Methods: R/M SCCHN patients who received nivolumab were divided into the 3 mg/kg and 240 mg/body groups and retrospectively examined for efficacy and safety., Results: A total of 199 patients (3 mg/kg and 240 mg/body, 88 and 111 patients, respectively) were included. The 3 mg/kg vs. 240 mg/body groups had similar overall response rates (15% vs. 25, p=0.15), disease control rates (46% vs. 57%, p=0.15), overall survival (9.5 months vs. 10.9 months), and progression-free survival (3.7 months vs. 3.8 months, p=0.95). The incidence of immune-related adverse events was also similar in both groups., Conclusion: In R/M SCCHN patients, nivolumab showed similar efficacy and safety at doses of 3 mg/kg and 240 mg/body., (Copyright © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Prognostic factors of hypopharyngeal carcinoma have been reported previously. However, recurrent cases of this disease occurring within 6 months of treatment have been excluded or poorly documented in many studies. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors of hypopharyngeal carcinoma recurrence within 6 months., Patients and Methods: A total of 120 patients were eligible for this retrospective study. Recurrent cases of hypopharyngeal carcinoma occurring within 6 months of treatment were evaluated and compared with non-recurrent cases., Results: Recurrence within 6 months was detected in 28/50 cases. In univariate analyses, classification markers (pT≥4a and cN≥2b) were statistically significant prognostic factors for early recurrence (p=0.04 and p=0.04, respectively); however, only pT≥4a was predictive of recurrence in multivariate analyses (p=0.02)., Conclusion: Risk stratification according to the prognostic factor pT≥4a will allow physicians to identify patients who should be followed meticulously within the first 6 months., (Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Combination therapy consisting of a platinum agent, 5-fluorouracil and cetuximab (EXTREME regimen) is recommended for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M-SCCHN). However, it is advisable to use platinum-free regimens as first-line therapy in patients resistant to platinum agents. There has been no report comparing EXTREME regimen outcomes between platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive patients., Objectives: We conducted this study to examine the outcomes of the EXTREME regimen as first-line therapy in patients with R/M-SCCHN and a history of platinum agent use and assess whether the EXTREME regimen outcomes differ between platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive patients., Materials and Methods: The study included 32 patients with R/M-SCCHN who received the EXTREME regimen as first-line therapy. Patients with recurrence or metastasis within 6 months after cisplatin administration were considered platinum-resistant and those with no recurrence or metastasis within 6 months were considered platinum-sensitive., Results: 17 patients were platinum-resistant and 15 patients were platinum-sensitive. The median survival durations were 10.6 and 19.9 months in the platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive patients, respectively, and the prognosis was significantly better in the platinum-sensitive patients (p = .02)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the EXTREME regimen is useful as first-line therapy for R/M-SCCHN in platinum-sensitive patients.