Multinational phase 3 trial of addition of perioperative pembrolizumab to standard of care for resectable locally advanced HNSCC

The multinational phase 2 KEYNOTE-689 trial evaluated addition of perioperative pembrolizumab to standard of care (SOC) for patients with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC). Results of the first interim analysis (median follow-up 38.3 months; range 9.0-66.5) both event-free survival and major pathological response rate were significantly better with pembolizumab plus SOC compared to SOC alone, independent of PD-L1 combined positive score. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events frequency was similar for pembolizumab plus SOC (44.6%) and SOC alone (42.9%). Additional follow-up for overall survival is ongoing. The authors conclude that adding perioperative pembrolizumab to SOC significantly improved EFS and mPR rate in patients with resectable LA HNSCC.