Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41484607›Full record

ArticleCancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII2026

Comparison of induction chemotherapy with/without PD-1 inhibitors followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Yongchao Yu, Zan Jiao, Tong Wu, Kang Ning, Taonong Cai, Zhongyuan Yang, Weichao Chen, Mingjie Jiang, Ankui Yang

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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

9 authors.

Yongchao Yu *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
Zan Jiao *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
Tong Wu *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
Kang NingState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
Taonong CaiState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
Zhongyuan YangState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
Weichao ChenState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China. chenwch@sysucc.org.cn.
Mingjie JiangState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China. jiangmj1@sysucc.org.cn.
Ankui YangState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China. yangak@sysucc.org.cn.

Funding

Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province No. 2023A1515010450, 2023A1515012903, 2022A1515110033National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 82072981, 82272649, 82303881, 82403855, 82403078
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLocally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC) remains a disease with a challenging prognosis. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has long been the standard of care, yet efforts to enhance outcomes through the addition of induction or adjuvant therapies have largely failed. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly PD-1 inhibitors, have demonstrated efficacy in managing HNSCC, becoming a first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic cases. This study aims to evaluate whether adding PD-1 inhibitors to induction chemotherapy can improve long-term outcomes in newly diagnosed LA HNSCC patients. PATIENTS AND

methodsThis retrospective analysis included 204 newly diagnosed LA HNSCC patients treated between February 2012 and February 2023. Patients were divided into two cohorts: TPI group (n=115), who received induction chemotherapy including PD-1 inhibitors, and TP group (n=89), who received induction chemotherapy alone. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), while secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). Baseline characteristics were balanced using overlap propensity score weighting. Survival analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and subgroup analyses employed Cox proportional hazards models.

resultsWith a median follow-up of 29.23 months, baseline characteristics were balanced after weighting. The addition of PD-1 inhibitors significantly improved OS (HR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03-0.37, p<0.001) and PFS (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20-0.89, p=0.024). Furthermore, the TPI group showed a significant improvement in the best radiological responses (p=0.02). Subgroup analyses identified specific factors associated with enhanced PFS and OS.

conclusionsThe addition of PD-1 inhibitors to induction chemotherapy significantly improves overall survival in patients with LA HNSCC, underscoring the potential for further clinical trials to refine and optimize treatment strategies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsChemoradiotherapyHead and Neck NeoplasmsImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsInduction ChemotherapySquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorRetrospective StudiesImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsPDCD1 protein, humanProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorHead and neck squamous cell carcinomaImmunotherapyInduction therapy

Identifiers

PMID41484607
PMCPMC12764731

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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.