Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer – The current scenario

Anticancer immunity modulation is the current standpoint of research and has revolutionized the standard of care of platinum refractory recurrent/metastatic head and neck carcinoma of squamous cell origin (R/M HNSCC). Checkpoint inhibitors are targeted at PD-1/ PD-L1 axis, which is involved in the genesis, maintenance and progression of HNSCC. Head and neck cancer has an immunosuppressive character and a high inflammatory response component in the tumor microenvironment. The clinical settings in which these agents are highly useful are in study all around the globe. We discuss the current up to date clinical trial results and the future prospective of cancer immunotherapy in the field of HNSCC. Keywords: Immunotherapy, Head and neck cancer, Metastatic cancer, Squamous cell carcinoma.