Escalation Strategies and Novel Approaches in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
In the era of immunotherapy, heralded by the approval of anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors for recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer, the field is moving rapidly to determine how to integrate immunotherapy in the curative intent setting. To date, clinical trials have been disappointing. This suggests the need to better understand the anti-tumor effects and the immune microenvironment modulation by all treatment modalities, including surgery, radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, in order to best combine and sequence these treatments in previously untreated, locally advanced head and neck cancer.
Target Audience
This meeting is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, nurses, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, radiation therapists, radiation dosimetrists, speech language pathologists/scientists, dentists, oral surgeons, swallowing and speech therapists, audiologists, physical therapists, scientists, immunologist and rehabilitation specialists.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to do the following:
- Identify key immune players that mediate response and resistance in the context of radiation and immunotherapy combinations.
- Describe recent advances and future directions in integration of neoadjuvant immunotherapy prior to surgery in HNC.
- Describe clinical trials of radiosensitizers as well as developing data regarding drivers of radioresistance in head and neck cancer.
- Identify data which support induction versus adjuvant systemic treatment for patients with locoregionally advanced NPC.
Sana Karam, MD, PhD, is employed by the University of Colorado, Denver and receives research grants from AstraZeneca, Genentech and Roche.
Ravi Uppaluri, MD, PhD, is employed by Brigham and Women's Hospital and is on the advisory board of Merck Inc.
Heath Skinner, MD, PhD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh and receives research grants from NIDCR and NIH.
Dimitrios Colevas, MD, is employed by Stanford University and received research grants from AdPNP, BioNtech, CUE Biopharma, ECTCN, Gilead, NCI, NRG Oncology, Replimune and Tessa Therapeutics.
All relevant relationships have been mitigated.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing education to physicians.
ASTRO is awarded Deemed Status by the American Board of Radiology to provide SA-CME as part of Part II Maintenance of Certification.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.00 Certificate of AttendanceThis activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.