Head & Neck Cancers

Cabozantinib demonstrated a sustained benefit in progression-free survival vs placebo in patients with previously treated, radioactive iodine–refractory differentiated thyroid cancer, regardless of prior exposure to sorafenib or lenvatinib.

The FDA has approved cabozantinib for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer that has progressed after prior VEGF-targeted therapy and who are radioactive iodine–refractory or ineligible.

Dr. Sosa discusses the rise in thyroid cancer cases, patient risk factors, the financial challenges associated with long-term treatment and testing, and future research directions in the field.

The rolling submission of a biologics license application to support the approval of both toripalimab plus gemcitabine- and cisplatin-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, as well as toripalimab monotherapy for the second-line or beyond treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma after platinum-based chemotherapy has been completed.

Fox Chase Cancer Center researcher Camille Ragin, PhD, MPH, was recently awarded a Specialized Program of Research Excellence grant of $50,000 for a pilot project examining differences in risk and disease course for Black versus white head and neck cancer patients.

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to toripalimab for single-agent use in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in the frontline treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to a supplemental new drug application for cabozantinib for the treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer who have progressed after previous therapy and who are radioactive iodine refractory.

Recommendations for mitigating and managing treatment-related adverse events associated with tipifarnib.

Glenn J. Hanna, MD, and Nabil F. Saba, MD, FACP, highlight potential new therapies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in various patient populations.

Glenn J. Hanna, MD, and Nabil F. Saba, MD, FACP, discuss the design and potential clinical implications of the AIM-HN trial of tipifarnib in head and neck cancers.

Potential implications for treating patients with HRAS-mutated head and neck cancer with tipifarnib, based on results demonstrated by the RUN-HN study.

Guidance for incorporating initial and repeat molecular testing in head and neck cancers into clinical practice.

A brief overview of treatment advances for HRAS-mutated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab did not significantly improve overall survival over the EXTREME regimen in the frontline treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, missing the primary end points of the phase 3 CheckMate-651 trial.

The combination of belapectin plus pembrolizumab has demonstrated early potential for disease control with acceptable tolerability in patients with metastatic melanoma and head and neck cancer.

Dr. Sherman discusses the incidence of RET fusions in medullary thyroid cancer and the current clinical landscape of RET inhibitors in the field.

The immunotherapy Leukocyte interleukin followed by surgery and radiotherapy, without chemotherapy, significantly improved overall survival compared with standard of care alone in the treatment of patients with advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Barbara Burtness, MD, discusses the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer.

Selpercatinib demonstrated evidence of preliminary efficacy and safety in pediatric patients with advanced RET-altered solid tumors.

The addition of the immunotherapy agent toripalimab to gemcitabine plus cisplatin demonstrated superior progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy alone in the frontline treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, according to data from the phase 3 JUPITER-02 trial.

Innovative strategies are vital for patients diagnosed with rare cancers, who are frequently at a disadvantage compared with those who have more common malignancies, experts say.

Taofeek Owonikoko MD, PhD, MSCR, discusses the efficacy of selpercatinib in pre-treated and treatment-naive patients with RET fusion–positive medullary thyroid cancer.

Julie Ann Sosa, MD, MA, FACS, FSSO, discusses risk factors for thyroid cancer.

A biologics license application has been submitted to the FDA for the PD-1 monoclonal antibody penpulimab for the third-line treatment of patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Eric M. Horwitz, MD, FABS, FASTRO, and Stephanie E. Weiss, MD, FASTRO, highlight ongoing research efforts with radiation therapy that are generating excitement at their institution.