Stereotactic body radiation therapy combined with single-dose durvalumab before surgery appeared safe and induced durable responses among patients with HPV-unrelated locally advanced head and neck cancer, according to study results.The findings of the phase 1/1b study, published in Nature Cancer, laid the groundwork for a larger, ongoing phase 2 trial.

CHICAGO — Docetaxel prolonged DFS and OS when added to radiation for cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to study results presented at ASCO Annual Meeting.The addition of docetaxel also did not appear to worsen quality of life at 6 months, researchers concluded.

Circulating tumor tissue-modified viral HPV DNA detected through a new assay appeared associated with nodal disease burden among patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, according to study results.The findings, published in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, showed the assay did not detect clinical stage N0 disease; thus, sensitivity of the assay may be lower