Skip to main content
. 2021 Jul 1;11:682075. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.682075

Table 3.

Results of published head and neck-specific clinical trials using preoperative immunotherapy.

Author Trial Number Phase Patient population OCSCC Preoperative therapy Pathologic and safety outcomes
Uppaluri et al. (61) NCT02296684 II Stage III-IVb (AJCC, 7th ed) HPV- HNSCC (n = 36) 61% (22/36) Pembrolizumab (200mg) 13-22 days preoperatively pTR 10%–49% = 22%
pTR ≥ 50% = 22%
MPR > 90% = 6%
Grade 3-4 AE = 0%
Schoenfeld et al. (66) NCT02919683 II ≥T2-4b or N+, M0 (AJCC, 7th ed) OCSCC (n = 29) 100% (29/29) Nivolumab (3mg/kg) wk 1 and 3 ± ipilimumab (1mg/kg) wk 1; Surgery wk 4 Nivo (n=14) Nivo + ipi (n=15)
pTR 10%–49% = 38% pTR 10%–49% = 40%
pTR ≥ 50% = 15% pTR ≥ 50% = 33%
MPR > 90% = 8% MPR > 90% = 20%
Grade 3-4 AE = 14% Grade 3-4 AE = 33%
Zinner et al. (73) NCT03342911 II Stage III/IVA (AJCC, 8th ed) HPV- HNSCC (n=26)
Stage II/III (AJCC, 88h ed) HPV+ OPSCC (n=6)
81% (21/26) Nivolumab (240mg) q 2 wks x 3 HPV- HNSCC:
Carboplatin q wk x 6 MPR > 90% = 65%
Paclitaxel (100mg/m2) q wk x 3 pCR = 42%
Grade 3-4 AE = 35%
Horton et al. (67) NCT03021993 II Stage II-IVA OCSCC (n=9) 100% (9/9) Nivolumab (3 mg/kg) q 2 weeks x 3/4 pTR > 30% = 44%
pCR = 0%
Grade 3-4 AE = 0%
Wise-Draper et al. (69) NCT02641093 II T3-4 and/or >2 + LNs HPV- HNSCC (n=34) Unknown Pembrolizumab (200mg) x1 1-3 wks preoperatively pTR ≥ 10% = 52%
pCR = 4%
Grade 3-4 AE = 3%
Ferris et al. (84) (CHECKMATE-358) NCT02488759 I, II ≥T1 and ≥N1 Unknown Nivolumab (240mg) q2 weeks x2 No pathologic data
HPV+ (n=12) Tumor reduction on CT scan = 48%
HPV- (n=17) Tumor reduction 40 -75% = 13%
HNSCC Grade 3-4 AE: HPV+ = 17%; HPV- = 12%
Bell et al. (MEDI6469) (85) NCT02274155 Ib Stage III-IVA Unknown Anti OX40 antibody (MEDI6469) (0.4mg/kg) q2/3 days x3 No pathologic data
HPV+ (n=7) Increased activation and proliferation of T cells
HPV- (n=11) Grade 3-4 AE = 0%
HNSCC
Zuur et al. (IMCISION) (71) NCT03003637 Ib/II T3-4, N0-3, M0 HPV- HNSCC (n = 12) Unknown Nivolumab (240mg) wk 1 and 3 ± ipilimumab (1mg/kg) wk 1 Nivo (n=6) Niv + Ipi (n=6)
MPR >90% = 16.7% MPR >90% = 33.3%
Surgery wk 5 pTR >50% = 0 pTR >50% = 16.7%
Grade 3-4 AE = 16.7% Grade 3-4 AE = 33.3%

AE, adverse events; AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; HPV, human papilloma virus; MPR; major pathologic response; OCSCC, oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma; pCR, pathologic complete response; pTR, pathologic tumor response.