Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review

Radiation therapy remains at the center of head and neck cancer treatment. With improvements in treatment delivery, radiation therapy has become an affective ablative modality for head and neck cancers. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are now also playing a more active role both in the locally advanced...

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Main Authors: Caressa Hui, Brittney Chau, Greg Gan, William Stokes, Sana D. Karam, Arya Amini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.592319/full
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author Caressa Hui
Brittney Chau
Greg Gan
William Stokes
Sana D. Karam
Arya Amini
author_facet Caressa Hui
Brittney Chau
Greg Gan
William Stokes
Sana D. Karam
Arya Amini
author_sort Caressa Hui
collection DOAJ
description Radiation therapy remains at the center of head and neck cancer treatment. With improvements in treatment delivery, radiation therapy has become an affective ablative modality for head and neck cancers. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are now also playing a more active role both in the locally advanced and metastatic setting. With improved systemic options, local noninvasive modalities including radiation therapy are playing a critical role in overcoming resistance in head and neck cancer. The aim of this review is to describe the role of radiation therapy in modulating the tumor microenvironment and how radiation dose, fractionation and treatment field can impact the immune system and potentially effect outcomes when combined with immunotherapy. The review will encompass several common scenarios where radiation is used to improve outcomes and overcome potential resistance that may develop with immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including upfront locally advanced disease receiving definitive radiation and recurrent disease undergoing re-irradiation. Lastly, we will review the potential toxicities of combined therapy and future directions of their role in the management of HNSCC.
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spelling doaj.art-5a11fcba79d84226a197061a35a8bd882022-12-21T22:52:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2021-07-011110.3389/fonc.2021.592319592319Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A ReviewCaressa Hui0Brittney Chau1Greg Gan2William Stokes3Sana D. Karam4Arya Amini5Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United StatesSchool of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United StatesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KA, United StatesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United StatesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United StatesRadiation therapy remains at the center of head and neck cancer treatment. With improvements in treatment delivery, radiation therapy has become an affective ablative modality for head and neck cancers. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are now also playing a more active role both in the locally advanced and metastatic setting. With improved systemic options, local noninvasive modalities including radiation therapy are playing a critical role in overcoming resistance in head and neck cancer. The aim of this review is to describe the role of radiation therapy in modulating the tumor microenvironment and how radiation dose, fractionation and treatment field can impact the immune system and potentially effect outcomes when combined with immunotherapy. The review will encompass several common scenarios where radiation is used to improve outcomes and overcome potential resistance that may develop with immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including upfront locally advanced disease receiving definitive radiation and recurrent disease undergoing re-irradiation. Lastly, we will review the potential toxicities of combined therapy and future directions of their role in the management of HNSCC.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.592319/fullradiation therapySBRTstereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)immunotherapeuticimmune check inhibitorshead and neck cancer
spellingShingle Caressa Hui
Brittney Chau
Greg Gan
William Stokes
Sana D. Karam
Arya Amini
Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review
Frontiers in Oncology
radiation therapy
SBRT
stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
immunotherapeutic
immune check inhibitors
head and neck cancer
title Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review
title_full Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review
title_fullStr Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review
title_short Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Using Radiation: A Review
title_sort overcoming resistance to immunotherapy in head and neck cancer using radiation a review
topic radiation therapy
SBRT
stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
immunotherapeutic
immune check inhibitors
head and neck cancer
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.592319/full
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