Immunotherapy for head and neck tumors: Updates from the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Immunotherapeutic approaches are now established in the treatment of various tumor entities, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). PD-1 antibodies are currently approved for HNSCC with palliative intent but are increasingly being investigated in studies with curative objectives, e.g., as neoadjuvant therapy. At ASCO 2024, particular focus was placed on combinations of immunotherapy with therapeutic vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced tumors. Moreover, the question of which patients benefit most from immunotherapy remains unresolved. The growing significance of PD-L1 expression, measured by the combined positive score (CPS), is becoming increasingly evident. This article summarizes the latest relevant findings from the largest international cancer congress, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 Annual Meeting.