{
  "abstract": "Background/Aim: Pembrolizumab-based therapy is widely used for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). However, clinical outcomes after subsequent salvage chemotherapy (SCT) remain insufficiently defined. This study evaluated the efficacy of SCT after pembrolizumab in patients with R/M HNSCC.\n\nPatients and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 36 evaluable patients with R/M HNSCC who received SCT after pembrolizumab between December 2019 and February 2022. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Secondary endpoints included the disease control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and exploratory clinical factors associated with treatment outcomes.\n\nResults: The best overall response to SCT was a complete response in 2 patients, partial response in 8, stable disease in 12, and progressive disease in 14. The overall response rate was 27.8%, and the disease control rate was 61.1%. Median progression-free and overall survival were 4.6 months and 11.5 months, respectively. The overall response rate was significantly higher (>4-fold) in patients with prior surgery and in platinum-naive patients. A combined positive score of 20 or higher for tumor programmed cell death-ligand 1, initial M1 status, and prior surgery were associated with longer progression-free survival in exploratory analyses.\n\nConclusion: SCT after pembrolizumab showed clinically meaningful activity in selected patients with R/M HNSCC. These findings support SCT as a reasonable post-pembrolizumab option, although prospective validation is warranted.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan",
    "Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan",
    "Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Kanagawa, Japan",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa, Japan",
    "Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chibanishi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 18,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "CHIHIRO FUSHIMI"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "ISAKU OKAMOTO"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "TAKASHI MATSUKI"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "TAKURO OKADA"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "YURI UEDA"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        5
      ],
      "name": "HIDEAKI TAKAHASHI"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "HIROKI SATO"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "TAKAHITO KONDO"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "KUNIHIKO TOKASHIKI"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "KENJI HANYU"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "TATSUYA ITO"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "YUKIOMI KUSHIHASHI"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "TATSUO MASUBUCHI"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        7
      ],
      "name": "YUICHIRO TADA"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "GO OMURA"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "TAKU YAMASHITA"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "NOBUHIKO ORIDATE"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "KIYOAKI TSUKAHARA"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/851ydrfnjfbks.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.21873/invivo.14503",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13723975/",
  "id": "851ydrfnjfbks",
  "issns": [
    "0258-851X",
    "1791-7549"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.14503",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2733|Head and Neck Cancer Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224553332",
  "pdf_url": "https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/invivo/40/6/3648.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13723975",
  "pmid": "42957236",
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "International Institute of Anticancer Research",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/851ydrfnjfbks.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T12:22:31Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13723975",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.14503"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2733|Head and Neck Cancer Studies",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Salvage Chemotherapy After Pembrolizumab for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma",
  "title_text": "Salvage Chemotherapy After Pembrolizumab for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:20:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/851ydrfnjfbks",
  "venue": "In Vivo",
  "versions": []
}