Open Access

Discontinuation of anti‑programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibition after complete remission in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review

  • Authors:
    • Manuel Stöth
    • Till Meyer
    • Thomas Gehrke
    • Rudolf Hagen
    • Matthias Scheich
    • Stephan Hackenberg
    • Agmal Scherzad
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 27, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14076
  • Article Number: 489
  • Copyright: © Stöth et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY_NC 4.0].

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Abstract

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‑1) inhibition plays a central role in the current treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M‑HNSCC). Some patients achieve a durable response, and even complete remission (CR) is possible, though it occurs rarely. In cases of durable CR, there are no guidelines regarding a possible discontinuation of immunotherapy. Since clinical experience on this issue is limited, the present study reported on a case of a durable CR following discontinuation of PD‑1 inhibition in R/M‑HNSCC and additionally presented an overview on the current literature. The present study reported on a case of CR of recurrent oropharyngeal cancer after four cycles of PD‑1 monotherapy with Nivolumab. The therapy was discontinued after overall 46 cycles. Even after 3 more years of follow‑up, there was no sign of tumor recurrence. Overall, according to reports from the literature, CR seems to be an indicator for durable disease control after therapy discontinuation. Since data on therapy termination is rare, decisions about when to stop successful immunotherapy in R/M‑HNSCC have to be made individually for each patient.
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November-2023
Volume 26 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Stöth M, Meyer T, Gehrke T, Hagen R, Scheich M, Hackenberg S and Scherzad A: Discontinuation of anti‑programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibition after complete remission in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review. Oncol Lett 26: 489, 2023
APA
Stöth, M., Meyer, T., Gehrke, T., Hagen, R., Scheich, M., Hackenberg, S., & Scherzad, A. (2023). Discontinuation of anti‑programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibition after complete remission in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review. Oncology Letters, 26, 489. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14076
MLA
Stöth, M., Meyer, T., Gehrke, T., Hagen, R., Scheich, M., Hackenberg, S., Scherzad, A."Discontinuation of anti‑programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibition after complete remission in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 26.5 (2023): 489.
Chicago
Stöth, M., Meyer, T., Gehrke, T., Hagen, R., Scheich, M., Hackenberg, S., Scherzad, A."Discontinuation of anti‑programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibition after complete remission in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 26, no. 5 (2023): 489. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14076