Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Forward
Definitive Treatment in Transition: De-Escalation, Biomarkers and Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Webinar
Immunotherapy has transformed the care of patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer but integration into definitive management has been more challenging. There are recent clinical trials investigating immunotherapy/radiation combinations for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. It is imperative that radiation oncology professionals remain current in state of the art data regarding radiation/immunotherapy combinations. This activity will discuss recent efforts to use immunotherapy before, during and after radiation in an attempt to improve cure rates and reduce toxicity. These data include recent potential practice changing clinical trials such as Keynote 689, as well as more novel and experimental approaches. This activity also provides participants the opportunity to gain exposure to the latest data regarding radiation/immunotherapy combinations as they apply to the definitive management of patients with head and neck cancer.
The past several decades have brought significant advances in the management of head and neck cancer. Chief among these has been the recognition of HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer as a distinct disease entity, reshaping treatment paradigms and clinical-decision making. As outcomes for this patient population have improved, increasing attention has been directed toward strategies that maintain oncologic efficacy while reducing long-term treatment-related toxicity. This has led to the development and evaluation of de-escalated therapeutic approaches across surgical, radiation and systemic treatment modalities. In the second part of this presentation, we provide an overview of the current landscape of de-escalated therapies in HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer, including a review of key prospective and randomized clinical trials. We will examine areas of therapeutic success and failure, discuss lessons learned from recent studies, and consider ongoing challenges in patient selection and treatment optimization. Finally, we highlight future directions and emerging innovations, including biomarker-driven approaches and novel trial designs, that may further refine treatment paradigms and improve quality of life for patients.
Topics:
- Immunotherapy in Definitive Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer
Jonathan Schoenfeld, MD, MPH - Therapeutic De-escalation for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD - Q and A
Yvonne Mowery, MD - Moderator
Jonathan Schoenfeld, MD, MPH
Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD
This content will be presented as a live webinar on February 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
This activity will be available from February 26, 2026 to February 25, 2028.
Continuing education credit is available for this activity until March 26, 2026.
Target Audience
The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, residents, physicists, radiation biologists, radiation dosimetrists, radiation therapists, surgeons, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and nurses.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Discuss recent data investigating immunotherapy in combination with radiation as part of definitive management for patients with head and neck cancers.
- Implement best practices for radiation/immunotherapy combinations in their clinics.
- Analyze the current evidence supporting de-escalated treatment strategies for HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer, including outcomes from key prospective and randomized clinical trials.
- Evaluate emerging approaches and future directions in the management of HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer, with an emphasis on patient selection, biomarker-driven strategies, and minimizing long-term treatment-related toxicity while maintaining oncologic efficacy.
Immunotherapy in Definitive Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer
- Jonathan Schoenfeld, MD, MPH
It is imperative that radiation oncology professionals remain current in state of the art data regarding radiation/immunotherapy combinations. This presentation will provide participants the opportunity to gain exposure to the latest data regarding radiation/immunotherapy combinations as they apply to the definitive management of patients with head and neck cancer. We will also discuss recent efforts to use immunotherapy before, during and after radiation in an attempt to improve cure rates and reduce toxicity. These data include recent potential practice changing clinical trials such as Keynote 689, as well as more novel and experimental approaches.
Therapeutic De-escalation for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
- Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD
In this presentation we will provide an overview of the current landscape of de-escalated therapies in HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer, including a review of key prospective and randomized clinical trials. We will examine areas of therapeutic success and failure, discuss lessons learned from recent studies, and consider ongoing challenges in patient selection and treatment optimization. Finally, we will highlight future directions and emerging innovations, including biomarker-driven approaches and novel trial designs, that may further refine treatment paradigms and improve quality of life for patients. This presentation will provide evidence-based guidance to support informed decision-making and optimize patient care in this evolving therapeutic landscape.
Moderator:
- Yvonne Mowery, MD, PhD, is employed by UPMC Hillman Cancer Center/University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Mowery receives honoraria from UpToDate. Dr. Mowery receives grant/research funding from the Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation, NIDCR/NIH, the John R. Flanagan Charitable Foundation and NCI. Dr. Mowery has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
Speakers:
- Jonathan Schoenfeld, MD, MPH, is employed by Mass General Brigham/Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Schoenfeld receives compensation/payment from Immunitas and Aveta Biomics. Dr. Schoenfeld receives grant/research funding from Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and Regeneron. Dr. Schoenfeld receives honoraria from Intragel and GSK. Dr. Schoenfeld owns stock options in Immunitas and Intragel.
- Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD, is employed by UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Wilke receives compensation/payment from Kallisio and is a copyright holder with MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Planners:
- Malcolm Mattes, MD is employed at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes received research/grant funding from Gilead Sciences (relationship ended 8/30/2025). Dr. Mattes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies.
- Parul Barry, MD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies.
- Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic and has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
- Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Center and Duke University Hospital. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian Medical Systems.
- Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Beigene. Dr. Jabbour receives compensation/payment as a consultant with Radialogica and IMX Medical.
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Continuing education credits for this activity must be claimed by March 26, 2026 by completing the evaluation.
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 Enduring material 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™.
Price
Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.
- Nonmember: $149
- Member: $99
- Member-in-Training: $49
- Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $49
- Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $49
If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.
Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date.
Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.
The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until February 25, 2028, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date.
Required Hardware/software
One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.