The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in stage III–IV HPV-negative SCCHN and stage II–III HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCCHN achieved a 45% primary-site pCR.
- Why it matters: Better pathologic responses after neoadjuvant therapy are linked to improved overall survival in locally advanced resectable SCCHN, motivating more effective regimens.
- What they did: In a single-arm, open-label phase II trial, 34 newly diagnosed patients received 6 weeks of carboplatin and paclitaxel with nivolumab every other week, then surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy ± chemotherapy; the primary endpoint was pCR at the primary site.
- The result: Among 33 patients who underwent surgery, R0 resection was 100%, with 73% achieving at least MPR and 45% pCR; at 3 years, recurrence-free survival and OS were 74% and 83%, respectively.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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