U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

MedGen UID:
1660276
•Concept ID:
C0744620
•
Neoplastic Process

Definition

A head and neck squamous cell carcinoma which has spread from the original site of growth to another anatomic site. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Nivolumab vs Pembrolizumab for Treatment of US Patients With Platinum-Refractory Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Network Meta-analysis and Cost-effectiveness Analysis.
Pei R, Shi Y, Lv S, Dai T, Zhang F, Liu S, Wu B
JAMA Netw Open 2021 May 3;4(5):e218065. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.8065. PMID: 33956130Free PMC Article
Treatment Strategy for Distant Synchronous Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Tang E, Lahmi L, Meillan N, Pietta G, Albert S, Maingon P
Curr Oncol Rep 2019 Nov 14;21(11):102. doi: 10.1007/s11912-019-0856-5. PMID: 31728650
Chemotherapy added to locoregional treatment for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma: three meta-analyses of updated individual data. MACH-NC Collaborative Group. Meta-Analysis of Chemotherapy on Head and Neck Cancer.
Pignon JP, Bourhis J, Domenge C, Designé L
Lancet 2000 Mar 18;355(9208):949-55. PMID: 10768432

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Immunotherapy and Biomarker Testing in Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers: ASCO Guideline.
Yilmaz E, Ismaila N, Bauman JE, Dabney R, Gan G, Jordan R, Kaufman M, Kirtane K, McBride SM, Old MO, Rooper L, Saba NF, Sheth S, Subramaniam RM, Wise-Draper TM, Wong D, Mell LK
J Clin Oncol 2023 Feb 10;41(5):1132-1146. Epub 2022 Dec 15 doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.02328. PMID: 36521102
Pembrolizumab plus cetuximab in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: an open-label, multi-arm, non-randomised, multicentre, phase 2 trial.
Sacco AG, Chen R, Worden FP, Wong DJL, Adkins D, Swiecicki P, Chai-Ho W, Oppelt P, Ghosh D, Bykowski J, Molinolo A, Pittman E, Estrada MV, Gold K, Daniels G, Lippman SM, Natsuhara A, Messer K, Cohen EEW
Lancet Oncol 2021 Jun;22(6):883-892. Epub 2021 May 11 doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00136-4. PMID: 33989559
Cetuximab, docetaxel, and cisplatin versus platinum, fluorouracil, and cetuximab as first-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (GORTEC 2014-01 TPExtreme): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial.
Guigay J, Aupérin A, Fayette J, Saada-Bouzid E, Lafond C, Taberna M, Geoffrois L, Martin L, Capitain O, Cupissol D, Castanie H, Vansteene D, Schafhausen P, Johnson A, Even C, Sire C, Duplomb S, Evrard C, Delord JP, Laguerre B, Zanetta S, Chevassus-Clément C, Fraslin A, Louat F, Sinigaglia L, Keilholz U, Bourhis J, Mesia R; GORTEC; AIO; TTCC, and UniCancer Head and Neck groups
Lancet Oncol 2021 Apr;22(4):463-475. Epub 2021 Mar 5 doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30755-5. PMID: 33684370
Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Locally Advanced, Human Papillomavirus-Unrelated Head and Neck Cancer: A Multicenter, Phase II Trial.
Uppaluri R, Campbell KM, Egloff AM, Zolkind P, Skidmore ZL, Nussenbaum B, Paniello RC, Rich JT, Jackson R, Pipkorn P, Michel LS, Ley J, Oppelt P, Dunn GP, Barnell EK, Spies NC, Lin T, Li T, Mulder DT, Hanna Y, Cirlan I, Pugh TJ, Mudianto T, Riley R, Zhou L, Jo VY, Stachler MD, Hanna GJ, Kass J, Haddad R, Schoenfeld JD, Gjini E, Lako A, Thorstad W, Gay HA, Daly M, Rodig SJ, Hagemann IS, Kallogjeri D, Piccirillo JF, Chernock RD, Griffith M, Griffith OL, Adkins DR
Clin Cancer Res 2020 Oct 1;26(19):5140-5152. Epub 2020 Jul 14 doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-1695. PMID: 32665297Free PMC Article
Pembrolizumab versus methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab for recurrent or metastatic head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-040): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study.
Cohen EEW, Soulières D, Le Tourneau C, Dinis J, Licitra L, Ahn MJ, Soria A, Machiels JP, Mach N, Mehra R, Burtness B, Zhang P, Cheng J, Swaby RF, Harrington KJ; KEYNOTE-040 investigators
Lancet 2019 Jan 12;393(10167):156-167. Epub 2018 Nov 30 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31999-8. PMID: 30509740

Diagnosis

Assessing PD-L1 Expression in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Trials and Tribulations.
Bill R, Faquin WC, Pai SI
Head Neck Pathol 2023 Dec;17(4):969-975. Epub 2023 Nov 6 doi: 10.1007/s12105-023-01590-6. PMID: 37930471Free PMC Article
Tumor microenvironmental modification by the current target therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Okuyama K, Naruse T, Yanamoto S
J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023 May 5;42(1):114. doi: 10.1186/s13046-023-02691-4. PMID: 37143088Free PMC Article
Nivolumab for Platinum-refractory and -sensitive Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Okada T, Matsuki T, Fushimi C, Okamoto I, Sato H, Kondo T, Tokashiki K, Ito T, Masubuchi T, Tada Y, Miura K, Hanyu K, Omura GO, Takahashi H, Yamashita T, Oridate N, Tsukahara K
Anticancer Res 2022 Oct;42(10):4907-4912. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15996. PMID: 36192003
Nivolumab vs Pembrolizumab for Treatment of US Patients With Platinum-Refractory Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Network Meta-analysis and Cost-effectiveness Analysis.
Pei R, Shi Y, Lv S, Dai T, Zhang F, Liu S, Wu B
JAMA Netw Open 2021 May 3;4(5):e218065. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.8065. PMID: 33956130Free PMC Article
Prognostic and predictive factors in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature.
Bossi P, Alfieri S, Strojan P, Takes RP, López F, Mäkitie A, Saba NF, Rodrigo JP, Bradford C, Suarez C, Zafereo M, Forastiere AA, Vermorken JB, Quer M, Sanabria A, Simo R, de Bree R, Rinaldo A, Ferlito A
Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019 May;137:84-91. Epub 2019 Feb 13 doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.01.018. PMID: 31014517

Therapy

Pembrolizumab and cabozantinib in recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a phase 2 trial.
Saba NF, Steuer CE, Ekpenyong A, McCook-Veal A, Magliocca K, Patel M, Schmitt NC, Stokes W, Bates JE, Rudra S, Remick J, McDonald M, Abousaud M, Tan AC, Fadlullah MZH, Chaudhary R, Muzaffar J, Kirtane K, Liu Y, Chen GZ, Shin DM, Teng Y, Chung CH
Nat Med 2023 Apr;29(4):880-887. Epub 2023 Apr 3 doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02275-x. PMID: 37012550Free PMC Article
Pembrolizumab With or Without Chemotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study.
Harrington KJ, Burtness B, Greil R, Soulières D, Tahara M, de Castro G Jr, Psyrri A, Brana I, Basté N, Neupane P, Bratland Å, Fuereder T, Hughes BGM, Mesia R, Ngamphaiboon N, Rordorf T, Wan Ishak WZ, Lin J, Gumuscu B, Swaby RF, Rischin D
J Clin Oncol 2023 Feb 1;41(4):790-802. Epub 2022 Oct 11 doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.02508. PMID: 36219809Free PMC Article
Pembrolizumab Alone or With Chemotherapy for Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in KEYNOTE-048: Subgroup Analysis by Programmed Death Ligand-1 Combined Positive Score.
Burtness B, Rischin D, Greil R, Soulières D, Tahara M, de Castro G Jr, Psyrri A, Brana I, Basté N, Neupane P, Bratland Å, Fuereder T, Hughes BGM, Mesia R, Ngamphaiboon N, Rordorf T, Wan Ishak WZ, Ge J, Swaby RF, Gumuscu B, Harrington K
J Clin Oncol 2022 Jul 20;40(21):2321-2332. Epub 2022 Mar 25 doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.02198. PMID: 35333599Free PMC Article
Pembrolizumab plus cetuximab in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: an open-label, multi-arm, non-randomised, multicentre, phase 2 trial.
Sacco AG, Chen R, Worden FP, Wong DJL, Adkins D, Swiecicki P, Chai-Ho W, Oppelt P, Ghosh D, Bykowski J, Molinolo A, Pittman E, Estrada MV, Gold K, Daniels G, Lippman SM, Natsuhara A, Messer K, Cohen EEW
Lancet Oncol 2021 Jun;22(6):883-892. Epub 2021 May 11 doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00136-4. PMID: 33989559
Pembrolizumab versus methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab for recurrent or metastatic head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-040): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study.
Cohen EEW, Soulières D, Le Tourneau C, Dinis J, Licitra L, Ahn MJ, Soria A, Machiels JP, Mach N, Mehra R, Burtness B, Zhang P, Cheng J, Swaby RF, Harrington KJ; KEYNOTE-040 investigators
Lancet 2019 Jan 12;393(10167):156-167. Epub 2018 Nov 30 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31999-8. PMID: 30509740

Prognosis

Constructing heterogeneous single-cell landscape and identifying microenvironment molecular characteristics of primary and lymphatic metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Zhang J, Liu Y, Xia L, Zhen J, Gao J, Atsushi T
Comput Biol Med 2023 Oct;165:107459. Epub 2023 Sep 9 doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107459. PMID: 37713790
Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Older Patients: Are New Agents Bringing New Hope?
Cossu Rocca M, Lorini L, Szturz P, Bossi P, Vermorken JB
Drugs Aging 2023 Feb;40(2):135-143. Epub 2023 Jan 30 doi: 10.1007/s40266-022-01000-6. PMID: 36715829
Durvalumab with or without tremelimumab versus the EXTREME regimen as first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: KESTREL, a randomized, open-label, phase III study.
Psyrri A, Fayette J, Harrington K, Gillison M, Ahn MJ, Takahashi S, Weiss J, Machiels JP, Baxi S, Vasilyev A, Karpenko A, Dvorkin M, Hsieh CY, Thungappa SC, Segura PP, Vynnychenko I, Haddad R, Kasper S, Mauz PS, Baker V, He P, Evans B, Wildsmith S, Olsson RF, Yovine A, Kurland JF, Morsli N, Seiwert TY; KESTREL Investigators
Ann Oncol 2023 Mar;34(3):262-274. Epub 2022 Dec 16 doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.12.008. PMID: 36535565
Pembrolizumab With or Without Chemotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study.
Harrington KJ, Burtness B, Greil R, Soulières D, Tahara M, de Castro G Jr, Psyrri A, Brana I, Basté N, Neupane P, Bratland Å, Fuereder T, Hughes BGM, Mesia R, Ngamphaiboon N, Rordorf T, Wan Ishak WZ, Lin J, Gumuscu B, Swaby RF, Rischin D
J Clin Oncol 2023 Feb 1;41(4):790-802. Epub 2022 Oct 11 doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.02508. PMID: 36219809Free PMC Article
Pembrolizumab Alone or With Chemotherapy for Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in KEYNOTE-048: Subgroup Analysis by Programmed Death Ligand-1 Combined Positive Score.
Burtness B, Rischin D, Greil R, Soulières D, Tahara M, de Castro G Jr, Psyrri A, Brana I, Basté N, Neupane P, Bratland Å, Fuereder T, Hughes BGM, Mesia R, Ngamphaiboon N, Rordorf T, Wan Ishak WZ, Ge J, Swaby RF, Gumuscu B, Harrington K
J Clin Oncol 2022 Jul 20;40(21):2321-2332. Epub 2022 Mar 25 doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.02198. PMID: 35333599Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Pembrolizumab and cabozantinib in recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a phase 2 trial.
Saba NF, Steuer CE, Ekpenyong A, McCook-Veal A, Magliocca K, Patel M, Schmitt NC, Stokes W, Bates JE, Rudra S, Remick J, McDonald M, Abousaud M, Tan AC, Fadlullah MZH, Chaudhary R, Muzaffar J, Kirtane K, Liu Y, Chen GZ, Shin DM, Teng Y, Chung CH
Nat Med 2023 Apr;29(4):880-887. Epub 2023 Apr 3 doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02275-x. PMID: 37012550Free PMC Article
Immunotherapy and Biomarker Testing in Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers: ASCO Guideline.
Yilmaz E, Ismaila N, Bauman JE, Dabney R, Gan G, Jordan R, Kaufman M, Kirtane K, McBride SM, Old MO, Rooper L, Saba NF, Sheth S, Subramaniam RM, Wise-Draper TM, Wong D, Mell LK
J Clin Oncol 2023 Feb 10;41(5):1132-1146. Epub 2022 Dec 15 doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.02328. PMID: 36521102
Pembrolizumab With or Without Chemotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study.
Harrington KJ, Burtness B, Greil R, Soulières D, Tahara M, de Castro G Jr, Psyrri A, Brana I, Basté N, Neupane P, Bratland Å, Fuereder T, Hughes BGM, Mesia R, Ngamphaiboon N, Rordorf T, Wan Ishak WZ, Lin J, Gumuscu B, Swaby RF, Rischin D
J Clin Oncol 2023 Feb 1;41(4):790-802. Epub 2022 Oct 11 doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.02508. PMID: 36219809Free PMC Article
Phase II Multi-institutional Clinical Trial Result of Concurrent Cetuximab and Nivolumab in Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Chung CH, Li J, Steuer CE, Bhateja P, Johnson M, Masannat J, Poole MI, Song F, Hernandez-Prera JC, Molina H, Wenig BM, Kumar S, Kuperwasser C, Stephens PJ, Farinhas JM, Shin DM, Kish JA, Muzaffar J, Kirtane K, Rocco JW, Schell MJ, Saba NF, Bonomi M
Clin Cancer Res 2022 Jun 1;28(11):2329-2338. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-3849. PMID: 35344035Free PMC Article
Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Locally Advanced, Human Papillomavirus-Unrelated Head and Neck Cancer: A Multicenter, Phase II Trial.
Uppaluri R, Campbell KM, Egloff AM, Zolkind P, Skidmore ZL, Nussenbaum B, Paniello RC, Rich JT, Jackson R, Pipkorn P, Michel LS, Ley J, Oppelt P, Dunn GP, Barnell EK, Spies NC, Lin T, Li T, Mulder DT, Hanna Y, Cirlan I, Pugh TJ, Mudianto T, Riley R, Zhou L, Jo VY, Stachler MD, Hanna GJ, Kass J, Haddad R, Schoenfeld JD, Gjini E, Lako A, Thorstad W, Gay HA, Daly M, Rodig SJ, Hagemann IS, Kallogjeri D, Piccirillo JF, Chernock RD, Griffith M, Griffith OL, Adkins DR
Clin Cancer Res 2020 Oct 1;26(19):5140-5152. Epub 2020 Jul 14 doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-1695. PMID: 32665297Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Dang S, Zhang S, Zhao J, Li X, Li W
Cancer Med 2023 Oct;12(20):20277-20286. Epub 2023 Oct 10 doi: 10.1002/cam4.6564. PMID: 37814950Free PMC Article
Combination immunochemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Xu Q, Huang S, Yang K
BMJ Open 2023 Jun 13;13(6):e069047. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069047. PMID: 37311638Free PMC Article
Efficacy of first-line systemic treatment regimens for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a network meta-analysis.
Yu X, Su X, Fang L, Zhang H, Chen X, Pu Y, Liu H, Guo R
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2023 Mar;280(3):1391-1401. Epub 2022 Oct 1 doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07673-4. PMID: 36181527
Efficacy of cetuximab plus PD-1 inhibitor differs by HPV status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhang S, Zheng M, Nie D, Xu L, Tian H, Wang M, Liu W, Feng Z, Han F
J Immunother Cancer 2022 Oct;10(10) doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005158. PMID: 36253001Free PMC Article
Systemic Therapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Lau A, Yang WF, Li KY, Su YX
Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020 Sep;153:102984. Epub 2020 May 30 doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102984. PMID: 32569853

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Related information

    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...