Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41596632›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer-Where Are We Now and Where Are We Headed?

Rafał Becht, Kajetan Kiełbowski, Paulina Żukowska, Robert Kowalczyk, Sebastian Ochenduszko, Inmaculada Maestu Maiques, Katarzyna Radomska

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Rafał BechtDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Chemotherapy and Cancer Immunotherapy, Pomeranian University of Medicine, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-4820-0629
Kajetan KiełbowskiDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Chemotherapy and Cancer Immunotherapy, Pomeranian University of Medicine, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-8227-6753
Paulina ŻukowskaDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Chemotherapy and Cancer Immunotherapy, Pomeranian University of Medicine, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.
Robert KowalczykMaxillo-Facial Surgery Clinic, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.
Sebastian OchenduszkoDepartment of Oncology, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Av.de Gaspar Aguilar 90, 46017 Valencia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0126-8418
Inmaculada Maestu MaiquesDepartment of Oncology, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Av.de Gaspar Aguilar 90, 46017 Valencia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-7901-0900
Katarzyna RadomskaDepartment of Otolaryngology, Pomeranian University of Medicine, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-0464-1214

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) encompasses tumors located within the oral cavity, sinonasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx. It is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Current treatment methods in HNC patients involve radical surgery, radical radiotherapy, and concomitant chemoradiotherapy, along with adjuvant and induction therapies. Accumulating trials examine the role of immunotherapy in patients with HNC. The results of the CheckMate-141 and KEYNOTE-048 trials demonstrated the benefits of using immunotherapy in patients with metastatic or recurrent HNC. Subsequently, numerous other immunotherapy-based protocols have been evaluated. Then, KEYNOTE-689 successfully implemented immunotherapy in patients with locally advanced disease. This review aims to comprehensively present the landscape of immunotherapy opportunities in patients with HNC. It summarizes completed key clinical trials that led to the approval of immunotherapy in HNC and presents currently performed trials with highly expected results. Furthermore, it discusses methods to improve immunotherapy outcomes in the cohort of HNC patients, describes the current role of immunotherapy in HNC, and presents future perspectives of this type of treatment.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsImmunotherapyClinical Trials as TopicHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsImmune Checkpoint Inhibitorsbiomarkershead and neck cancerimmune checkpoint inhibitorsimmunotherapysystemic treatment

Identifiers

PMID41596632
PMCPMC12842567

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.