Phase 2 trial of induction toripalimab and chemotherapy for organ preservation in locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer

A phase 2 trial at Fudan University (Shanghai, China) evaluated induction therapy with toripalimab and chemotherapy for organ preservation in locally advanced laryngeal or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with response received concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by toripalimab maintenance. At three months post-radiation, the larynx preservation rate (primary endpoint) was 88.9%. One-year overall survival rate, progression-free survival rate, and larynx preservation rate were 84.7%, 77.6%, and 88.7%, respectively. The authors conclude that among patients with locally advanced laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer, induction toripalimab plus chemotherapy had encouraging activity resulting in promising larynx preservation rate.