Dr. Hong on Advances in Head and Neck Cancer

Waun K. Hong, MD, FACP, DMSc, division head, American Cancer Society Professor, Samsung Distinguished University Chair in Cancer Medicine, Department of Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and 2018 Giant of Cancer Care^® in Head and Neck Cancer, discusses advances in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer.

Physicians are showing increasing understanding of immunologic profiling in head and neck cancer tumorigenesis, says Hong. In addition, dendritic cell function and T-cell function is better understood by physicians, which has led to increasing therapeutic options for patients.

Immunosuppressive agents have shown promise in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer, specifically nivolumab (Opdivo). The FDA approved nivolumab in 2016 for patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck following progression on platinum-based therapy. Nivolumab’s efficacy in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer is an exciting finding, says Hong.