Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes among individuals receiving first-line pembrolizumab therapy for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1160144
• Publication Date: 2023-05-22T13:19:47Z
• Authors: Christopher M. Black; Glenn J. Hanna; Liya Wang; Karthik Ramakrishnan; Daisuke Goto; Vladimir Turzhitsky; Gleicy M. Hair
• Keywords: Expanded access

Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, is approved as first-line (1L) treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) monotherapy in combination with platinum 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. Limited data exist on the use of these regimens real-world settings.Our primary objectives were to describe baseline characteristics overall survival (rwOS), time (rwToT), next (rwTTNT) among individuals R/M HNSCC receiving 1L pembrolizumab therapies. We also aimed identify factors associated choice therapy rwOS.This was retrospective cohort study adults plus used Kaplan-Meier analyses assess outcomes, logistic regression modeling therapy, Cox proportional hazards models rwOS.The population included 431 215 The higher combined positive score PD-L1 expression, older age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), laryngeal tumor site, human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive status. group had median (95% CI) rwOS 12.1 (9.2-15.1) months, rwToT 4.2 (3.5-4.6) rwTTNT 6.5 (5.4-7.4) months. Among this group, HPV-positive lower ECOG PS longer rwOS, oral cavity site shorter rwOS. chemotherapy 11.9 (9.0-16.0) 4.9 (3.8-5.6) 6.6 (5.8-8.3) In adds clinical trial by summarizing outcomes pembrolizumab-containing therapies more heterogeneous population. Overall both groups similar those observed registration trial. These findings support standard care HNSCC.