Investigation of the Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab in Recurrent and Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Hiroki Sato, Chihiro Fushimi, Takuro Okada, Takashi Matsuki, Takahito Kondo, Go Omura, Kouki Miura, Taku Yamashita, Isaku Okamoto, Kiyoaki Tsukahara
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with several types of recurrent and metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. We evaluated patients with R/M-NPC receiving nivolumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with R/M-NPC were enrolled at 4 institutions. The primary endpoint was overall survival, and secondary endpoints were i) progression-free survival (PFS), ii) overall response rate (ORR), iii) disease control rate (DCR), and iv) treatment-related toxicity. RESULTS: The 1-year survival rate was 75.8%, the median PFS was 2.8 months, and the 1-year PFS rate was 33.3%. The best therapeutic response was complete response in 2, stable disease in 3 and progressive disease in 7 patients. The ORR of all patients was 16.7% and the DCR was 41.7%. CONCLUSION: Nivolumab is a useful and relatively safe second-line systemic therapy in patients with R/M-NPC, and even patients who do not respond to nivolumab may survive for a long time.