Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy

Abstract Background It is uncertain whether the combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy can provide survival benefits for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the impact of radiotherapy on the efficacy of immunotherapy and...

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Main Authors: Yanshuang Cheng, Juan Wang, Ji Sun, Yahua Zhong, Qiuji Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02801-y
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author Yanshuang Cheng
Juan Wang
Ji Sun
Yahua Zhong
Qiuji Wu
author_facet Yanshuang Cheng
Juan Wang
Ji Sun
Yahua Zhong
Qiuji Wu
author_sort Yanshuang Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background It is uncertain whether the combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy can provide survival benefits for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the impact of radiotherapy on the efficacy of immunotherapy and prognostic analysis in 113 patients with R/M HNSCC in our institution from 2018 to 2022. The Kaplan–Meier method was utilized for survival analysis, and Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify prognostic factors. Results The median follow-up time was 14.0 months. During immunotherapy, 37 patients received radiotherapy, targeting primary tumors, lymph nodes, metastasis in liver, lung, bone, and other sites. We found that the group receiving immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy had higher objective response rate (67.6% vs 39.5%, p = 0.009) and disease control rate (94.6% vs 61.8%, p = 0.001) than those without radiotherapy. The median progression-free survival (20.0 months vs 4.0 months, p = 0.00098) and overall survival (not reached vs 26.0 months, p = 0.006) were improved in patients receiving radiotherapy compared to those not. Conclusions The combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy demonstrates improved clinical outcomes in R/M HNSCC.
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spelling doaj-art-6e099cde93e5463d89b3a9ad4b8f6bc82025-08-20T02:30:42ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-06-0116111410.1007/s12672-025-02801-yRadiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapyYanshuang Cheng0Juan Wang1Ji Sun2Yahua Zhong3Qiuji Wu4Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen UniversityDepartment of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityAbstract Background It is uncertain whether the combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy can provide survival benefits for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the impact of radiotherapy on the efficacy of immunotherapy and prognostic analysis in 113 patients with R/M HNSCC in our institution from 2018 to 2022. The Kaplan–Meier method was utilized for survival analysis, and Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify prognostic factors. Results The median follow-up time was 14.0 months. During immunotherapy, 37 patients received radiotherapy, targeting primary tumors, lymph nodes, metastasis in liver, lung, bone, and other sites. We found that the group receiving immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy had higher objective response rate (67.6% vs 39.5%, p = 0.009) and disease control rate (94.6% vs 61.8%, p = 0.001) than those without radiotherapy. The median progression-free survival (20.0 months vs 4.0 months, p = 0.00098) and overall survival (not reached vs 26.0 months, p = 0.006) were improved in patients receiving radiotherapy compared to those not. Conclusions The combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy demonstrates improved clinical outcomes in R/M HNSCC.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02801-yImmune checkpoint inhibitorsRadiotherapyChemotherapyRecurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomaClinical outcome
spellingShingle Yanshuang Cheng
Juan Wang
Ji Sun
Yahua Zhong
Qiuji Wu
Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
Discover Oncology
Immune checkpoint inhibitors
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Clinical outcome
title Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
title_full Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
title_fullStr Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
title_short Radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
title_sort radiotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers treated with immunotherapy
topic Immune checkpoint inhibitors
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Clinical outcome
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02801-y
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AT juanwang radiotherapyimprovestheclinicaloutcomesofrecurrentormetastaticheadandneckcancerstreatedwithimmunotherapy
AT jisun radiotherapyimprovestheclinicaloutcomesofrecurrentormetastaticheadandneckcancerstreatedwithimmunotherapy
AT yahuazhong radiotherapyimprovestheclinicaloutcomesofrecurrentormetastaticheadandneckcancerstreatedwithimmunotherapy
AT qiujiwu radiotherapyimprovestheclinicaloutcomesofrecurrentormetastaticheadandneckcancerstreatedwithimmunotherapy