Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers: A Paradigm Shift in Treatment Approach
Alessia Zotta,
Maria Luisa Marciano,
Francesco Sabbatino,
Alessandro Ottaiano,
Marco Cascella,
Monica Pontone,
Massimo Montano,
Ester Calogero,
Francesco Longo,
Morena Fasano,
Teresa Troiani,
Fortunato Ciardiello,
Fabiana Raffaella Rampetta,
Giovanni Salzano,
Giovanni Dell’Aversana Orabona,
Luigi Califano,
Franco Ionna,
Francesco Perri
Affiliations
Alessia Zotta
Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80128 Naples, Italy
Maria Luisa Marciano
Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Sabbatino
Medical Oncology Department, Università degli Studi di Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Alessandro Ottaiano
Abdominal Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Marco Cascella
Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy Unit, Università degli Studi di Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Monica Pontone
Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Massimo Montano
Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Ester Calogero
Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Longo
Maxillofacial and ENT Surgery Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Morena Fasano
Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80128 Naples, Italy
Teresa Troiani
Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80128 Naples, Italy
Fortunato Ciardiello
Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80128 Naples, Italy
Fabiana Raffaella Rampetta
Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giovanni Salzano
Head and Neck Section, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
Giovanni Dell’Aversana Orabona
Head and Neck Section, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
Luigi Califano
Head and Neck Section, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Science, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
Franco Ionna
Maxillofacial and ENT Surgery Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Perri
Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli IRCCS “G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated substantial efficacy in the treatment of numerous solid tumors, including head and neck cancer. Their inclusion in the therapeutic paradigm in metastatic lines of treatment has certainly improved the outcomes of these patients. Starting from this assumption, numerous studies have been conducted on ICIs in other earlier disease settings, including studies conducted in patients in neoadjuvant settings. However, how many and which studies are truly significant? Can they lay concrete foundations for further future studies and therefore allow us to continue to have this interesting future perspective? Through a review of the existing literature, coupled with insights gleaned from clinical practice and from the main recently published studies, we aim to examine the therapeutic potential of ICIs in patients affected by head and neck cancer in a neoadjuvant treatment setting and encourage researchers to set up successful future clinical trials.