Efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibition plus chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

A retrospective study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (according to this source the largest hospital in the world with over 10,000 beds) evaluated first-line anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibition plus chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA NPC). After three months follow-up, objective response was seen in 75% of the patients, as compared to 40% among LA NPC patients receiving first-line CRT alone. Overall survival, progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival were longer in the anti-PD-1 plus CRT group than in the CRT only group. The authors conclude that combination of first-line anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy with CRT may improve outcomes of LA NPC patients.