New immunotherapy drug doubles remission time for head and neck cancer patients

A new immunotherapy drug is being hailed as the biggest breakthrough in head and neck cancer treatment in over 20 years, after a global clinical trial found it could double the time patients remain cancer-free.

According to a report by The Guardian, the drug, pembrolizumab, helps the immune system detect and destroy cancer cells by targeting a protein called PD-L1. In a trial involving more than 700 patients across 24 countries, those who received the drug followed by standard care which includes surgery and radiotherapy, stayed in remission for an average of five years, compared to 30 months for those on standard care alone.

“For patients with newly diagnosed, locally advanced head and neck cancer, treatments haven’t changed in over two decades,” said Prof Kevin Harrington of the Institute of Cancer Research, London. “This research shows that immunotherapy could change the world for these patients – it significantly decreases the chance of cancer spreading around the body, at which point it is incredibly difficult to treat.”

The trial was led by Washington University School of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting. Dr Douglas Adkins, co-principal investigator, called the results “significant and notable,” marking a first for this class of drugs in newly diagnosed cases.

The treatment worked particularly well in patients with high levels of PD-L1 but improved outcomes for all groups.

Laura Marston, 45, from Derbyshire, joined the trial after being diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer in 2019. “I am amazed I am still here six years later,” she said. “This treatment has given me the gift of life.”

Prof Kristian Helin, CEO of the Institute of Cancer Research, said, “To learn that patients... had, on average, double the length of time free from evidence of disease... is wonderful."