TY - JOUR
T1 - Pembrolizumab as first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
T2 - a multi-institutional DAHANCA cohort study
AU - Søby, Sebastian
AU - Prestwich, Robin
AU - Gyldenkerne, Niels
AU - Maare, Christian
AU - Lonkvist, Camilla K.
AU - Andersen, Maria
AU - Nowicka-Matus, Kinga
AU - Gothelf, Anita
AU - Tramm, Trine
AU - Toustrup, Kasper
AU - Mihaela, Simion
AU - Ulahannan, Danny
AU - Iyizoba-Ebozue, Zsuzsanna
AU - Eriksen, Jesper G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by MJS Publishing on behalf of Acta Oncologica.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Background and purpose: Pembrolizumab is frequently used for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rmHNSCC) as first-line treatment. This study evaluates real-world effectiveness in a Danish and United Kingdom (UK) cohort. Patient/material and methods: Patients with confirmed rmHNSCC treated with pembrolizumab (2020– 2024) as first-line palliative treatment were included consecutively. Data were collected from patient files at four Danish head and neck cancer centres (discovery cohort) and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (comparison cohort). Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: In the discovery cohort (n = 228), a median OS of 10 months (95% [confidence interval [CI]: 10–12) and median PFS of 4 months (95% CI: 4–6) were found. Primary endpoints did not differ significantly between the discovery and comparison cohort. Baseline World Health Organization performance status appeared to negatively impact endpoints (hazard ratio: 1.4 [95% CI: 1.0–2.0]). Interpretation: In this real-world multi-centre study, pembrolizumab demonstrated efficacy equivalent to the registration studies in two independent cohorts.
AB - Background and purpose: Pembrolizumab is frequently used for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rmHNSCC) as first-line treatment. This study evaluates real-world effectiveness in a Danish and United Kingdom (UK) cohort. Patient/material and methods: Patients with confirmed rmHNSCC treated with pembrolizumab (2020– 2024) as first-line palliative treatment were included consecutively. Data were collected from patient files at four Danish head and neck cancer centres (discovery cohort) and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (comparison cohort). Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: In the discovery cohort (n = 228), a median OS of 10 months (95% [confidence interval [CI]: 10–12) and median PFS of 4 months (95% CI: 4–6) were found. Primary endpoints did not differ significantly between the discovery and comparison cohort. Baseline World Health Organization performance status appeared to negatively impact endpoints (hazard ratio: 1.4 [95% CI: 1.0–2.0]). Interpretation: In this real-world multi-centre study, pembrolizumab demonstrated efficacy equivalent to the registration studies in two independent cohorts.
KW - B7-H1 antigen (D060890)
KW - clinical trials, Phase IV as topic (D017327)
KW - head and neck neoplasms (D006258)
KW - palliative medicine (D065126)
KW - Pembrolizumab (C582435)
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016768241
U2 - 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.44327
DO - 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.44327
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 40976915
AN - SCOPUS:105016768241
SN - 0284-186X
VL - 64
SP - 1269
EP - 1275
JO - Acta Oncologica
JF - Acta Oncologica
ER -