Immunotherapy in elderly head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Viola Salvestrini; Saverio Caini; Melissa Scricciolo; Michael Saerens; Heleen Bollen; Pierluigi Bonomo; Francesca Caparrotti; Luigi Lorini; Marc Oliva; Marc Oliva; Maria Urbanowicz-Nijaki; Petr Szturz

doi:10.3389/fonc.2024.1395838

Frontiers in Oncology (May 2024)

Immunotherapy in elderly head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Viola Salvestrini,
Saverio Caini,
Melissa Scricciolo,
Michael Saerens,
Heleen Bollen,
Pierluigi Bonomo,
Francesca Caparrotti,
Luigi Lorini,
Marc Oliva,
Marc Oliva,
Maria Urbanowicz-Nijaki,
Petr Szturz

Affiliations

Viola Salvestrini: Radiation Oncology Unit, Oncology Department, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
Saverio Caini: Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research Prevention and Clinical Network, Florence, Italy
Melissa Scricciolo: Radiation Oncology Unit, Ospedale dell’Angelo, Venice, Italy
Michael Saerens: Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Heleen Bollen: Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, and Radiation Oncology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Pierluigi Bonomo: Radiation Oncology Unit, Oncology Department, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
Francesca Caparrotti: Radiation Oncology Department, Clinique Générale Beaulieu - Swiss Medical Network, Geneva, Switzerland
Luigi Lorini: Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
Marc Oliva: Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO) L´Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain
Marc Oliva: Department of Medical Oncology, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
Maria Urbanowicz-Nijaki: 0Cancer Pathology Unit, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Poznan, Poland
Petr Szturz: 1Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne (UNIL) and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1395838
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionOver the past years, there has been a growing interest in the role of immunotherapy in locally advanced (LA) and recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). High-quality data from prospective trials are lacking for the elderly subpopulation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in older patients.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted. Randomized clinical trials providing outcome data on a subgroup of elderly (>65 years old) were available for meta-analysis. Primary outcomes of interest were OS and PFS for efficacy analysis.ResultsSeven studies were included in the systematic review and four in the efficacy analysis. The pooled analysis of OS and PFS showed a consistent benefit (HR 0.78 and 0.91, respectively).ConclusionsImmunotherapy may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option in the elderly population, but more prospective and randomized data are needed.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO (CRD42022333891).

Published in Frontiers in Oncology

ISSN: 2234-943X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/

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