Immunocheckpoint inhibition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the current status and progress / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

Over the past decades, although the clinical efficacy of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been moderately improved by the combination of cetuximab and chemotherapy, no remarkable treatment has emerged. The prognosis of HNSCC is still unsatisfied. With the deeper exploration of tumor immunological therapy, immunocheckpoint inhibitors such as monoclonal antibodies targeting on programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) have shown appreciable anti-tumor effect on cancers such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Some successful clinical studies on HNSCC have also been reported, which provide a new opportunity for the improvement of HNSCC prognosis.Here we systemically review the progress of checkpoint inhibitors and its combination therapy in HNSCC, some immunotherapy efficacy-related biomarkers are also discussed.