Head & Neck Cancers | Specialty

The OncLive Head and Neck Cancer condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on unmet needs, treatment advances, and ongoing research within head and neck cancer.

Novel Approach Reduces Treatment Toxicities in Patients With HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer

October 5th 2017

The incidence of mouth and throat cancer is on the rise due to transmission of the human papilloma virus, but physicians at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have managed to significantly reduce the intensity of treatment and improve quality of life for these patients.

Dr. Cohen Discusses the KEYNOTE-040 Trial in Head and Neck Cancer

September 22nd 2017

Ezra Cohen, MD, associate director, Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, discusses the phase III KEYNOTE-040 trial in head and neck cancer.

Dr. Zandberg on Durvalumab Trial in Head and Neck Cancer

September 22nd 2017

Dan Zandberg, MD, assistant professor, medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, discusses the HAWK trial of durvalumab (Imfinzi) in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Burtness Discusses Next Steps With Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

September 19th 2017

Barbara A. Burtness, MD, discusses the current role of immunotherapy in head and neck cancer and potential combination regimens on the horizon.

Mixed Results for Pembrolizumab in Phase III HNSCC Study

September 13th 2017

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) reduced the risk of death compared with standard of care therapy in patients with relapsed/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but the difference fell just shy of statistical significance.

High-Intensity Local Radiation Linked to Improved Survival in HNSCC

September 13th 2017

High-intensity local radiation combined with systemic therapy improved overall survival compared with systemic therapy alone in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Reduces Tumor Size Regardless of HPV Status in Head and Neck Cancer

September 10th 2017

Two doses of nivolumab given about 1 month prior to surgery are well tolerated and reduces tumor size in about half of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

FDG-PET/CT Scanning a Reliable Imaging Surveillance Technique in LAHNSCC

September 8th 2017

18Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanning reliably detected residual neck disease in newly diagnosed patients with locoregionally advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Study Supports Active Surveillance for Some Thyroid Cancer Patients

September 6th 2017

Results from an analysis of 3D tumor volume measurements shows papillary thyroid cancers ≤1.5 cm grew slowly during a period of active surveillance, suggesting that surgery may not be necessary for all patients.

Cabozantinib Active as Salvage Therapy in Thyroid Cancer

September 5th 2017

Cabozantinib (Cabometyx) demonstrated durable activity in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer who progressed on VEGFR-targeted therapy.

Pembrolizumab Active in Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

August 29th 2017

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) induced an overall response rate of 25.9% and was well tolerated in patients with PD-L1–positive recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Dr. Siegel on Induction Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

August 28th 2017

Robert Siegel, MD, chair, professor of medicine, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, George Washington University, discusses induction therapy for head and neck cancer.

Dr. Siegel on Benefits With Transoral Surgery and Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

August 24th 2017

Robert Siegel, MD, chair, professor of medicine, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, George Washington University, discusses the benefits of chemotherapy and transoral surgery for patients with head and neck cancer.

Dr. Siegel on Study of Induction Chemotherapy and Transoral Surgery in Oropharyngeal Cancer

August 23rd 2017

Robert Siegel, MD, chair, professor of medicine, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, George Washington University, discusses a study of induction chemotherapy and transoral surgery in patients with oropharyngeal cancer.

Dr. Siegel on the Da Vinci Robotic Assisted Surgery Technique in Head and Neck Cancer

August 18th 2017

Robert Siegel, MD, chair, professor of medicine, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, George Washington University, discusses the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery technique in head and neck cancer.

Dr. Bauml on the Unmet Need in Head and Neck Cancer

August 18th 2017

Joshua Bauml, MD, assistant professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, discusses an unmet need for patients with head and neck cancer.

EBV DNA Screening Detects Early Asymptomatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

August 15th 2017

Hong Kong researchers were able to detect nasopharyngeal carcinoma significantly earlier by screening for circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus DNA.

Dr. Weiss Discusses Prevention in Head and Neck Cancer

August 14th 2017

Jared Weiss, MD, assistant professor, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses prevention in head and neck cancer.

Novel Regimen May Eliminate Need for Radiation in Some Oropharyngeal Cancers

August 11th 2017

Robert Siegel, MD, discusses the 13-month follow-up of the combination of induction chemotherapy and transoral surgery in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Frontline Pembrolizumab Explored in Head and Neck Cancer

August 11th 2017

Jean-Pascal Machiels, MD, discusses the KEYNOTE-412 trial and the overall potential for pembrolizumab in the head and neck cancer landscape.