Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer

Abstract In the most recent edition of Holistic Integrative Oncology, a study by Han and colleagues revealed that combining neoadjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade with chemotherapy is effective for treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The retrospective analys...

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Main Authors: Yun-jing Hou, Xin-xin Yang, Hong-xue Meng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-12-01
Series:Holistic Integrative Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-024-00140-6
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author Yun-jing Hou
Xin-xin Yang
Hong-xue Meng
author_facet Yun-jing Hou
Xin-xin Yang
Hong-xue Meng
author_sort Yun-jing Hou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the most recent edition of Holistic Integrative Oncology, a study by Han and colleagues revealed that combining neoadjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade with chemotherapy is effective for treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The retrospective analysis included 51 patients. The participants were assigned to treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) alone or NAC combined with pembrolizumab. The study compared several outcomes between the two groups, including pathological complete response and objective response rates, delays in surgery, and toxicity. The results indicated that NAC combined with pembrolizumab significantly improved pathological responses without increasing toxicity or side effects. Meanwhile, we additionally reviewed the advanced pathological mechanisms underlying the combination of immune checkpoint blockade and NAC. These mechanisms encompass several key processes, including immunogenic cell death, increased immunogenicity of cancer cells, anti-angiogenic effects, and myeloid immunosuppressive cells. Consequently, the approach facilitates the transformation of tumors from a non-inflammatory state to an inflammatory state, thereby enhancing immune response rates.
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spelling doaj-art-8a391ecb16e4463c8f5be051f3d4e6b72025-08-20T02:40:17ZengSpringerHolistic Integrative Oncology2731-45292024-12-01311410.1007/s44178-024-00140-6Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancerYun-jing Hou0Xin-xin Yang1Hong-xue Meng2Harbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalAbstract In the most recent edition of Holistic Integrative Oncology, a study by Han and colleagues revealed that combining neoadjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade with chemotherapy is effective for treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The retrospective analysis included 51 patients. The participants were assigned to treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) alone or NAC combined with pembrolizumab. The study compared several outcomes between the two groups, including pathological complete response and objective response rates, delays in surgery, and toxicity. The results indicated that NAC combined with pembrolizumab significantly improved pathological responses without increasing toxicity or side effects. Meanwhile, we additionally reviewed the advanced pathological mechanisms underlying the combination of immune checkpoint blockade and NAC. These mechanisms encompass several key processes, including immunogenic cell death, increased immunogenicity of cancer cells, anti-angiogenic effects, and myeloid immunosuppressive cells. Consequently, the approach facilitates the transformation of tumors from a non-inflammatory state to an inflammatory state, thereby enhancing immune response rates.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-024-00140-6Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)Neoadjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade with chemotherapyPathological mechanism
spellingShingle Yun-jing Hou
Xin-xin Yang
Hong-xue Meng
Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
Holistic Integrative Oncology
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Neoadjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade with chemotherapy
Pathological mechanism
title Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
title_full Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
title_fullStr Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
title_full_unstemmed Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
title_short Pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
title_sort pathological mechanisms and advances in neoadjuvant pd 1 blockade combined with chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
topic Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Neoadjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade with chemotherapy
Pathological mechanism
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-024-00140-6
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