Real-world utilization and outcomes of immunotherapy for distantly metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Immunotherapy is part of multimodal treatment for distantly metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (mHNSCC); however, survival outcomes outside of clinical trials have not been systematically assessed. A cohort study (n=5059) using the National Cancer Database found that use of immunotherapy increased year over year from 9.3% in 2013 tot 33.8% in 2020. Combined use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy was associated with the longest median overall survival. Addition of immunotherapy was associated with modest improvement in survival for patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, oral cavity, and larynx, but not of the oropharynx.