Timing of surgery after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy impacts survival in operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Shrink Faster, Live Longer: Timing Saves Lives in Esophageal Cancer
This multicenter retrospective cohort study evaluated 163 patients with operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving neoadjuvant…
Faster tumor shrinkage and surgery within six weeks of treatment predict longer survival for esophageal cancer patients receiving new therap…
PD-1 inhibitors + chemo improve OS, PFS, ORR in first-line advanced ESCC; benefit limited in PD-L1 CPS <1
Who benefits most from new esophageal cancer treatment? Most patients do, except one group
A meta-analysis of 8 RCTs (n=4702) found first-line PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy significantly improved OS (HR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.63-0.74;…
For most advanced esophageal cancer patients, adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy extends life and shrinks tumors, but those with low PD-L1…
Research across Head and Neck Cancer
Related studies from across the Head and Neck Cancer family.
Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab did not improve overall survival compared to standard of care
Trial shows lenvatinib and pembrolizumab do not improve survival
This Phase 2 randomized trial evaluated lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in 374 adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell …
A Phase 2 trial found that a combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab did not improve overall survival for patients with advanced head an…
High tumor mutational burden correlates with improved objective response rate in HNSCC patients
High tumor mutation burden predicts better results in head cancer
This meta-analysis of 1472 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) found that high tumor mutational burden (TMB) is asso…
A high number of mutations in a tumor may help doctors predict which patients will respond best to immunotherapy.
Combination Therapies Improve Progression Free Survival in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Combination therapies show promise for advanced head and neck cancer
This meta-analysis evaluated combination therapies involving targeted agents or immunotherapy with chemotherapy for patients with recurrent …
Combining immunotherapy or targeted drugs with chemotherapy may help patients with advanced head and neck cancer live longer without the dis…
HPV shows strong association with oropharyngeal SCC while other oncogenic viruses show limited evidence
Viruses linked to oral and throat cancers in new review
This systematic review examines the role of various oncogenic viruses in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. It identifies a co…
A strong link between HPV and throat cancer is confirmed, while other viruses show less clear evidence of causing cancer.
Hyperspectral imaging shows strong diagnostic performance for oral cancer detection in scoping review
Hyperspectral imaging shows promise for detecting oral cancer
This scoping review of 15 studies found that hyperspectral imaging (HSI) demonstrates strong diagnostic performance for detecting and charac…
A new review finds hyperspectral imaging can spot oral cancer with high accuracy, offering a non-contact alternative for margin assessment.
Early recognition of femoral metastasis in HNSCC is essential to facilitate timely palliative intervention
New data reveals management of head and neck cancer spread
This systematic review characterizes clinical features and management outcomes for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC…
Identifying how head and neck cancer spreads to the femur can help doctors provide better care and improve quality of life for patients.
Pretreatment CPS and HPV status correlate with pathological response in neoadjuvant immunotherapy for LAHNSCC
Certain markers may predict how well immunotherapy treats head cancer
This meta-analysis of 26 studies involving 980 patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) found that hig…
New data suggests that specific biological markers can help doctors predict how well a patient's tumor will respond to immunotherapy.
Oral diseases stem from disrupted host-microbiome-immune balance, narrative review argues
New research explores how oral bacteria drive gum disease
This narrative review argues that periodontitis, dental caries, and oral squamous cell carcinoma should be understood as disorders of host-m…
Oral health depends on a delicate balance between your immune system, tissue barriers, and the trillions of microbes living in your mouth.
HOX gene dysregulation influences cellular processes but currently lacks utility as reliable HNSCC biomarkers
HOX genes play complex roles in head and neck cancer
This mini-review examines the role of HOX genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The authors conclude that while these gene…
New research highlights how HOX genes drive tumor growth and survival in head and neck cancers, though their use as clinical tools is still …
Local brain therapies associated with reduced mortality in HNSCC patients with brain metastasis
Local brain treatments linked to modest survival gains in rare head and neck cancer cases
This retrospective cohort analysis evaluated 201 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and brain metastasis from three tertiar…
Local brain treatments linked to lower death risk for rare head and neck cancer patients who develop brain metastases, though most still die…
Fianlimab plus cemiplimab showed objective response rates of 20% to 33% in advanced solid tumors during a Phase 1 study.
Early trial shows new cancer drug combo helps some patients with advanced disease
This Phase 1, first-in-human dose-expansion study evaluated fianlimab 1600 mg plus cemiplimab 350 mg in patients with advanced non-small cel…
A new drug combination helped some patients with advanced lung, kidney, head and neck, or skin cancer shrink their tumors in early testing.
Molecular markers may improve risk assessment in oral potentially malignant disorders
Molecular tools may improve risk assessment for oral lesions
This narrative review examines the limitations of conventional histopathological grading for oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) an…
A review suggests molecular methods could better assess risk for oral potentially malignant disorders where standard grading is unreliable.
Questions about Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
How does neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy change the tumor environment in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy remodels the tumor microenvironment in ESCC by increasing cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, dendritic cell remodeling, and reducing tumor volume, which correlates with better pathological response and survival.
Full answer →Does gastroesophageal reflux disease increase the risk of laryngeal cancer or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?
GERD increases the risk of laryngeal cancer but not esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, according to a large meta-analysis.
Full answer →Is S-1 medication better than radiation alone for elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?
Yes, S-1 plus radiation improves survival over radiation alone for elderly patients with inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, based on a phase III trial.
Full answer →Can a deep learning model help diagnose esophageal squamous cell carcinoma more accurately?
Yes, deep learning models can help diagnose esophageal squamous cell carcinoma more accurately, with studies showing high AUC values for tumor detection and lymph node metastasis prediction.
Full answer →Does adding radiation to chemotherapy help esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients live longer?
Adding radiation to chemotherapy before surgery does not clearly improve overall survival for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients compared to chemotherapy alone, but it increases the chance of a complete tumor response.
Full answer →