Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy improves response rates in head and neck cancer

Despite the recent approval of perioperative pembrolizumab for locally advanced, resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, response rates to immunotherapy are low. A recent single-arm phase II trial of neoadjuvant nivolumab in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel demonstrated improved pathologic response rates compared to either chemotherapy or immunotherapy alone.