Background
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a treatment that works well for some patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but many do not respond to it.
Study Overview
In a recent clinical trial, patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC who did not respond to ICB were given a low dose of a drug called 5-azacytidine (5-aza) for 5 or 10 days, along with two other medications, durvalumab and tremelimumab.
Key Findings
Out of the patients who were evaluated:
- 38% showed significant increases in important immune markers in their tumors.
- These changes were linked to more immune cells entering the tumor and fewer regulatory cells that suppress the immune response.
- The average neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a measure of inflammation, dropped by over 50%.
- The median overall survival for patients was 16.3 months, with 24.7% surviving for 2 years.
- 58% of patients lived longer than 12 months after treatment.
Conclusion
The study suggests that low-dose 5-aza can help reprogram the immune system and improve the effectiveness of ICB in patients who previously did not respond.
Opportunities for Clinics and Patients
Define Measurable Outcomes
Set clear goals to use epigenetic therapy to help patients with anti-PD-1 refractory head and neck cancers respond better to immunotherapy.
Select AI Tools
Choose AI solutions that are specifically designed to support the needs of clinical practice in this area.
Implement Step by Step
Start with a pilot project to test these approaches, and track the results using AI tools to measure the real-world impact of the therapy.
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