Should you stop immunotherapy if there’s no pathologic response in the tumor? This discussion tackles a critical debate in head and neck cancer treatment regarding the adjuvant arm of the landmark 689 trial. The speakers challenge the misconception that adjuvant pembrolizumab can be discontinued based on neoadjuvant response alone, emphasizing that the trial’s survival benefits came from the complete 17-dose regimen over a full year—not just the upfront doses. Learn why multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for navigating these nuanced treatment decisions and avoiding potentially costly mistakes that could compromise patient outcomes.
Contributors:
Dr. Jennifer Johnson is a head and neck surgeon and Associate Professor in the Departments of Medical Oncology and Otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Adam Luginbuhl is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Mihir Patel is a head and neck surgical oncologist and professor at UNC School of Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Siddharth Sheth is a head and neck medical oncologist at UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
