Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41216710›Full record

ArticleCancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)2025

Real-World Outcomes of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Analyzing Patient-Specific Factors Influencing Survival and Response Rate.

Lena Huber, Constanze Kohler, Anne Lammert, Claudia Scherl, Sonja Ludwig, Annette Affolter, Nicole Rotter, Frederic Jungbauer

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Article in Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lena HuberDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-0252-4911
Constanze KohlerMedical Faculty, Mainz University, Germany.
Anne LammertDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3219-720X
Claudia ScherlDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9651-0974
Sonja LudwigDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9751-323X
Annette AffolterDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2604-3020
Nicole RotterDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1537-8340
Frederic JungbauerDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4512-0263

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a globally significant disease with poor survival outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab have improved treatment paradigms, yet their real-world efficacy and the factors influencing treatment outcomes remain underexplored.

aimsThis study aimed to evaluate real-world outcomes of pembrolizumab and nivolumab therapy in patients with HNSCC and to identify clinical and laboratory factors associated with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). METHODS AND

resultsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 45 HNSCC patients treated with pembrolizumab or nivolumab at the University Medical Center Mannheim. Patient-specific factors, including tumor characteristics, PD-L1 expression, and laboratory parameters, were assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimation, log-rank tests, and multivariate regression models. The median OS and PFS were 10.4 months and 7.4 months, respectively, with an ORR of 22%. A tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% and absence of smoking or alcohol abuse significantly improved ORR, while female sex, high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and elevated leukocyte counts were associated with inferior OS and PFS. Real-world outcomes largely aligned with the pivotal trials Keynote-048 and CheckMate 141.

conclusionThis study underscores the predictive value of TPS and patient lifestyle factors in ICI treatment for HNSCC. The findings also highlight sex-specific differences, as well as NLR and leukocyte count as potential prognostic factors. Larger, more diverse cohorts are needed to confirm these results and refine patient selection strategies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsHead and Neck NeoplasmsImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedB7-H1 AntigenFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNivolumabPrognosisProgression-Free SurvivalAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedB7-H1 AntigenCD274 protein, humanImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsNivolumabpembrolizumabhead and neck squamous cell carcinomaimmune checkpoint inhibitorsimmunotherapy responsenivolumabpembrolizumabpredictive biomarkersprogression‐free survivalreal‐world outcomessurvival analysis

Identifiers

PMID41216710
PMCPMC12603622

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.