Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Abstract We report a long-lasting response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia (RHT) in a patient with recurrent metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) and negative programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Treatment was well t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04029-9 |
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| author | Luc M. Berclaz Anton Burkhard-Meier Axel Lechner Michael Völkl Sinan E. Güler Sultan Abdel-Rahman Sina Mansoorian Wolfgang G. Kunz Thomas Knösel Martin Canis Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon Rolf D. Issels Dorit Di Gioia Lars H. Lindner |
| author_facet | Luc M. Berclaz Anton Burkhard-Meier Axel Lechner Michael Völkl Sinan E. Güler Sultan Abdel-Rahman Sina Mansoorian Wolfgang G. Kunz Thomas Knösel Martin Canis Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon Rolf D. Issels Dorit Di Gioia Lars H. Lindner |
| author_sort | Luc M. Berclaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We report a long-lasting response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia (RHT) in a patient with recurrent metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) and negative programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Treatment was well tolerated with no local side effects. Tumor-related symptoms in the orbital and masticator area gradually decreased under treatment with nivolumab and RHT. Over the course of treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a local tumor control in the heated tumor areas, while metastatic lesions developed in areas outside of the RHT field. This is the first case report demonstrating the feasibility and clinical potential of the addition of RHT in this patient collective with poor outcomes and low response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors. RHT might be an additional tool to activate an immunogenic milieu responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-382dfe2c729f4819bd8ff97360524ce5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1432-0851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-382dfe2c729f4819bd8ff97360524ce52025-08-20T03:48:18ZengSpringerCancer Immunology, Immunotherapy1432-08512025-04-017461710.1007/s00262-025-04029-9Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomaLuc M. Berclaz0Anton Burkhard-Meier1Axel Lechner2Michael Völkl3Sinan E. Güler4Sultan Abdel-Rahman5Sina Mansoorian6Wolfgang G. Kunz7Thomas Knösel8Martin Canis9Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon10Rolf D. Issels11Dorit Di Gioia12Lars H. Lindner13Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDeparment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU MunichInstitute of Pathology, LMU MunichDeparment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU MunichAbstract We report a long-lasting response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia (RHT) in a patient with recurrent metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) and negative programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Treatment was well tolerated with no local side effects. Tumor-related symptoms in the orbital and masticator area gradually decreased under treatment with nivolumab and RHT. Over the course of treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a local tumor control in the heated tumor areas, while metastatic lesions developed in areas outside of the RHT field. This is the first case report demonstrating the feasibility and clinical potential of the addition of RHT in this patient collective with poor outcomes and low response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors. RHT might be an additional tool to activate an immunogenic milieu responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04029-9ImmunotherapyImmune checkpoint inhibitorsHead and neck cancerRegional hyperthermia |
| spellingShingle | Luc M. Berclaz Anton Burkhard-Meier Axel Lechner Michael Völkl Sinan E. Güler Sultan Abdel-Rahman Sina Mansoorian Wolfgang G. Kunz Thomas Knösel Martin Canis Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon Rolf D. Issels Dorit Di Gioia Lars H. Lindner Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Immunotherapy Immune checkpoint inhibitors Head and neck cancer Regional hyperthermia |
| title | Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| title_full | Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| title_fullStr | Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| title_short | Durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with PD-L1-negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| title_sort | durable response to nivolumab in combination with regional hyperthermia in a patient with pd l1 negative metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| topic | Immunotherapy Immune checkpoint inhibitors Head and neck cancer Regional hyperthermia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04029-9 |
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