Postoperative Management for HNSCC Based on Pathological Response of Induction Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Induction chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers. However, how to choose a proper postoperative treatment remains unknown. Eligibility patients were assigned to two arms, each divided into three groups: observation, immunotherapy maintenance, and radiotherapy (50 Gy dose) plus immunotherapy maintenance group for low-risk arm; radiotherapy (50 Gy or 60Gy dose) plus immunotherapy maintenance groups, concurrent chemotherapy plus immunotherapy maintenance group for a high-risk arm. Disease-free survival, overall survival, and treatment-related toxicity would be calculated to evaluate the efficacy of treatments.

Inclusion criteria

• The subjects are not limited by gender, age from 18 to 75 years old;
• Histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck cancer;
• Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed as T3-4 or N+ stage according to AJCC 8th edition staging;
• ECOG score 0-1;
• without distant metastasis;
• received induction chemotherapy plus immunotherapy, followed by surgery
• The expected survival is expected to be no less than 6 months.
• No contraindications to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy;

Exclusion criteria

• Past malignancies history (except for stage I non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical carcinoma in situ)
• Received any systemic anti-tumor therapy for target lesions before induction chemotherapy and immunotherapy;
• Previously experienced head and neck radiation therapy;
• Subjects who have used corticosteroids (>10 mg/day prednisone or other equivalent hormones) or other immunosuppressive agents for systemic treatment within 1 month before enrollment. In the absence of active autoimmune disease, inhaled or topical corticosteroids and adrenal hormone replacement therapy at therapeutic doses of prednisone ≤10 mg/day are permitted;
• Patients with pleural effusion, pericardial effusion or ascites that need to be drained with clinical symptoms, or who have received serous cavity effusion drainage for the purpose of treatment within 2 weeks before enrollment;
• Severe comorbidities including myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, cerebral vascular disease, ulceration disease, mental disease and uncontrolled diabetes