Neoadjuvant Photoimmunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Abstract

The study aims to assess the percentage of pathologic tumor response (pTR-2) in patients with surgically resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or head and neck skin squamous cell carcinoma receiving one neoadjuvant photoimmunotherapy cycle prior to standard of care surgical resection. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Head and Neck Surgery Program of the NCI. Tumor samples were obtained at baseline and post-PIT treatment, and were analyzed using single-cell RNA-seq. Concurrent blood samples were obtained at the same time points and flow cytometry was conducted to assess the effects of PIT on the immune cell phenotypes in the peripheral blood. This study completed enrollment of 9 patients and we are now in the phase of analyzing the clinical and translational results towards a manuscript preparation.