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Clinical Trial
. 2021 May 27;21(1):622.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-021-08373-8.

Induction chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Xia Li  1 , Qigen Fang  2 , Wei Du  2 , Xu Zhang  2 , Liyuan Dai  2 , Yongming Qiao  3
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Induction chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Xia Li et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of sintilimab combined with induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

Methods: A total of 163 patients were prospectively enrolled; 98 patients received IC only, and 65 patients received IC with sintilimab. Following neoadjuvant therapy, patients either underwent surgery (31.9%) or chemoradiotherapy (68.1%). Objective response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities between the two groups were compared.

Results: The ORR in the IC group was significantly lower than that in the IC with sintilimab group (68.4% vs 84.6%, P = 0.019). Grade 3 or higher acute toxicity occurred in 15 (15.3%) and 12 (18.5%) patients in the IC and IC with sintilimab groups, respectively. However, this difference was not significant (P = 0.596). After follow-up with a median time of 28.0 months, the IC group had a 2-year PFS rate of 27% (95%CI: 18-36%), whereas the IC with sintilimab group had a 2-year PFS rate of 44% (95%CI: 32-56%), and this difference was significant (P = 0.041). The 2-year OS rates in the IC and IC with sintilimab groups were 61% (95%CI: 52-70%) and 70% (95%CI: 60-80%), respectively, the difference was not significant (P = 0.681).

Conclusions: Addition of sintilimab to IC could provide longer PFS time than traditional chemotherapy regimen, without increasing the toxicity events.

Keywords: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Immunotherapy therapy; Sintilimab; TPF.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of progression free survival between induction chemotherapy (IC) group and IC combined with sintilimab group (p = 0.041)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of overall survival between induction chemotherapy (IC) group and IC combined with sintilimab group (p = 0.681)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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