Pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy for R/M HNSCC: updated results of KEYNOTE-048

In the multinational phase 3 KEYNOTE-048 trial, pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy demonstrated efficacy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Updated results of the trial show that with a 4-year follow-up, first-line pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy continued to demonstrate survival benefit versus cetuximab-chemotherapy. Patients responded well to subsequent treatment after pembrolizumab-based therapy.