MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Tanguy Seiwert, MD Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine Associate Director, Head and Neck Cancer Program Section of Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology Speciality Chief Editor Frontiers in Head and Neck Cancer University of Chicago Chicago, IL 60637 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? Dr. Seiwert: Recurrent/metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer (HNSCC) remains poorly treatable with a median OS of 10-13 months There is evidence of a  prominent immune escape observed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) suggesting that anti-PD1 agents (similar to e.g. melanoma) may be active. Medical Research: What are the main findings? Dr. Seiwert:

• One in four patients with Head/Neck cancer treated with pembrolizumab showed marked tumor shrinkage (so called – partial/complete responses), and 57% of patients experienced any decrease in the size of their tumors.
• Pembrolizumab is broadly active in both HPV(-) and HPV(+) types of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
• Pemborliuzmab treatment is active in heavily pretreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck patients.
• Responses seem to be durable è 86% of responding patients remain in response.

Treatment overall was well tolerated with less than 10% of patients experiencing severe side effects (≥Grade 3). (more…)