By Jennifer Jang, MHS, ASTRO Communications
De-escalation of elective nodal irradiation in head and neck cancer is supported by trials, reducing toxicity without increasing failures, with potential for further dose and volume reduction.By Sung Jun Ma, MD, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Prospective Quarterback Trials show induction chemotherapy with response-adapted, reduced-dose chemoradiation yields durable five-year control and survival in selected HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients while reducing toxicity.By Sung Jun Ma, MD, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
A phase II trial shows postoperative ctHPVDNA can guide adjuvant radiation de‑intensification after TORS in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, with favorable early control and survival, supporting personalized treatment.By Jennifer Jang, MHS, ASTRO Communications
Sana Karam, MD, PhD reviewed neoadjuvant immunotherapy studies, including KEYNOTE-689, urging biologic insight, durable responses, quality-of-life data, and caution against overtreatment in head and neck cancer.By Leah D’Souza, MD, MSc, UK Markey Cancer Center, and Kelly C. Ho, MD, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
KEYNOTE-689 study shows neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab improves surgical outcomes, pathologic responses, and margin-negative resections in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.By Ying Hitchcock, MD, FASTRO, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, University of Utah
Phase 3 C‑POST shows adjuvant cemiplimab after surgery and radiation significantly improves disease‑free survival in high‑risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with manageable toxicity and preserved quality of life.By Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD, and Yvonne Mowery, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
NRG‑HN009 phase II found weekly cisplatin did not reduce toxicity versus every‑three‑week dosing in p16‑positive head and neck cancer, with similar early control but differing toxicity profiles.
