2024
De-Escalated Therapy and Early Treatment of Recurrences in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer: The Potential for Biomarkers to Revolutionize Personalized Therapy
Yarbrough W, Schrank T, Burtness B, Issaeva N. De-Escalated Therapy and Early Treatment of Recurrences in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer: The Potential for Biomarkers to Revolutionize Personalized Therapy. Viruses 2024, 16: 536. PMID: 38675879, PMCID: PMC11053602, DOI: 10.3390/v16040536.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHPV+ HNSCCHPV-associated head and neck cancerHead and neck cancerHuman papillomavirus-associatedDe-escalation therapyDetect recurrent diseaseTreatment of recurrenceHPV-associated cancersHead and neckEarly treatment of recurrencePapillomavirus-associatedDevelopment of biomarkersResponsive tumorsRecurrent diseaseStandard therapyCompanion biomarkersHPV carcinogenesisHPV vaccinationNeck cancerPoor prognosisDecrease morbidityHNSCCEarly treatmentMolecular vulnerabilitiesPersonalized therapyAn algorithm for standardization of tumor Infiltrating lymphocyte evaluation in head and neck cancers
Xirou V, Moutafi M, Bai Y, Nwe Aung T, Burela S, Liu M, Kimple R, Shabbir Ahmed F, Schultz B, Flieder D, Connolly D, Psyrri A, Burtness B, Rimm D. An algorithm for standardization of tumor Infiltrating lymphocyte evaluation in head and neck cancers. Oral Oncology 2024, 152: 106750. PMID: 38547779, PMCID: PMC11060915, DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106750.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesHead and neck cancerTILs evaluationHPV-positiveNeck cancerPrognostic valueHead and neck squamous cell cancer casesTIL variablesAssociated with favorable prognosisHPV-negative headHPV-negative populationHematoxylin-eosin-stained sectionsCox regression analysisPotential clinical implicationsInter-observer variabilityInfiltrating lymphocytesClinicopathological factorsFavorable prognosisValidation cohortTumor cellsCancer casesProspective settingQuPath softwareRetrospective collectionPredictive significanceSafety profile of pembrolizumab monotherapy based on an aggregate safety evaluation of 8937 patients
Brahmer J, Long G, Hamid O, Garon E, Herbst R, Andre T, Armand P, Bajorin D, Bellmunt J, Burtness B, Choueiri T, Cohen E, Diaz L, Shitara K, Kulkarni G, McDermott D, Shah M, Tabernero J, Vogel A, Zinzani P, Jafari N, Bird S, Snyder E, Gause C, Bracco O, Pietanza M, Gruber T, Ribas A. Safety profile of pembrolizumab monotherapy based on an aggregate safety evaluation of 8937 patients. European Journal Of Cancer 2024, 199: 113530. PMID: 38295556, PMCID: PMC11227881, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.113530.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune-mediated adverse eventsAdverse eventsInfusion reactionsSafety profileClinical trialsPembrolizumab discontinuationPembrolizumab monotherapyNon-small cell lung cancerSafety of pembrolizumabDose of pembrolizumabTreated with prednisoneCell lung cancerLow steroid dosesPopulation of patientsSteroid doseMedian durationPembrolizumabAE onsetPooled analysisLung cancerCancer clinical trialsSafety dataPatientsCancer typesInfusion
2023
Emerging Prognostic and Predictive Significance of Stress Keratin 17 in HPV-Associated and Non HPV-Associated Human Cancers: A Scoping Review
Lozar T, Wang W, Gavrielatou N, Christensen L, Lambert P, Harari P, Rimm D, Burtness B, Kuhar C, Carchman E. Emerging Prognostic and Predictive Significance of Stress Keratin 17 in HPV-Associated and Non HPV-Associated Human Cancers: A Scoping Review. Viruses 2023, 15: 2320. PMID: 38140561, PMCID: PMC10748233, DOI: 10.3390/v15122320.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSquamous cell carcinomaTriple-negative breast cancerCancer typesPredictive significancePrognostic factorsClinical outcomesPrognostic significanceCell carcinomaHuman cancersCervical squamous cell carcinomaNeck squamous cell carcinomaAvailable clinical evidenceCochrane Central RegisterInferior clinical outcomesPositive prognostic factorNegative predictive factorNegative prognostic factorWeb of ScienceCentral RegisterControlled TrialsCervical cancerClinical evidencePredictive factorsPancreatic cancerEligible studiesPembrolizumab versus methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-040): Subgroup analysis by pattern of disease recurrence
Harrington K, Cohen E, Soulières D, Dinis J, Licitra L, Ahn M, Soria A, Machiels J, Mach N, Mehra R, Burtness B, Swaby R, Lin J, Ge J, Lerman N, Tourneau C. Pembrolizumab versus methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-040): Subgroup analysis by pattern of disease recurrence. Oral Oncology 2023, 147: 106587. PMID: 37925894, DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106587.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubgroup analysisRecurrence patternsNeck squamous cell carcinomaDisease recurrence patternsPlatinum-containing treatmentSquamous cell carcinomaLonger OSProlonged OSAdvanced diseaseData cutoffDefinitive therapyMetastatic headDurable responsesHazard ratioDisease recurrenceMetastatic HNSCCTreatment armsCell carcinomaM diseaseInvestigator's choicePatientsPembrolizumabRecurrentOnly subgroupSubgroupsRadiotherapy Plus Cisplatin With or Without Lapatinib for Non–Human Papillomavirus Head and Neck Carcinoma
Wong S, Torres-Saavedra P, Saba N, Shenouda G, Bumpous J, Wallace R, Chung C, El-Naggar A, Gwede C, Burtness B, Tennant P, Dunlap N, Redman R, Stokes W, Rudra S, Mell L, Sacco A, Spencer S, Nabell L, Yao M, Cury F, Mitchell D, Jones C, Firat S, Contessa J, Galloway T, Currey A, Harris J, Curran W, Le Q. Radiotherapy Plus Cisplatin With or Without Lapatinib for Non–Human Papillomavirus Head and Neck Carcinoma. JAMA Oncology 2023, 9: 1565-1573. PMID: 37768670, PMCID: PMC10540060, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.3809.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalAdverse event ratesOverall survivalStage IIIClinical trialsAcute adverse event ratesProgression-free survival ratesEnd pointEvent ratesAnti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodiesBenefit of chemoradiotherapyZubrod performance statusPrimary end pointSecondary end pointsCycles of cisplatinAddition of lapatinibEGFR antibody therapyGrowth factor receptor antibodyLog-rank testDual EGFRPlus CisplatinFrontline therapyPerformance statusAntibody therapyNeck carcinomaNoncanonical HPV carcinogenesis drives radiosensitization of head and neck tumors
Schrank T, Kothari A, Weir W, Stepp W, Rehmani H, Liu X, Wang X, Sewell A, Li X, Tasoulas J, Kim S, Yarbrough G, Xie Y, Flamand Y, Marur S, Hayward M, Wu D, Burtness B, Anderson K, Baldwin A, Yarbrough W, Issaeva N. Noncanonical HPV carcinogenesis drives radiosensitization of head and neck tumors. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2216532120. PMID: 37523561, PMCID: PMC10410762, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216532120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNF-κB-related genesEstrogen receptor alpha expressionDeintensification of therapyTreatment-related morbidityTumor-infiltrating CD4Receptor alpha expressionHPV carcinogenesisRadiosensitization of headOncogenic subtypesPIK3CA alterationsHNSCC tumorsPatient outcomesNeck tumorsT cellsTreatment responseHNSCC cellsTherapeutic intensityAtypical featuresIndependent cohortAlpha expressionNF-κBActive tumorTNF receptorTumorsPatient dataThe room where it happens: addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in National Clinical Trials Network clinical trial leadership
Snyder R, Burtness B, Cho M, Del Rivero J, Doroshow D, Hitchcock K, Kalyan A, Kim C, Lukovic J, Parikh A, Sanford N, Singh B, Shen C, Shroff R, Vijayvergia N, Goodman K, Kunz P. The room where it happens: addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in National Clinical Trials Network clinical trial leadership. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2023, 115: 1132-1138. PMID: 37364007, PMCID: PMC11009492, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djad121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Clinical Trials NetworkTrial leadershipClinical Trials NetworkDesign of trialsNational Cancer InstituteTask ForceCancer careClinical trialsNovel therapiesGastrointestinal oncologyCancer InstituteTrials NetworkMultidisciplinary investigatorsTrialsCooperative groupsBroader populationCancer researchOncologyPaclitaxel With or Without Cixutumumab as Second-Line Treatment of Metastatic Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: A Randomized Phase II ECOG-ACRIN Trial
Stockton S, Catalano P, Cohen S, Burtness B, Mitchell E, Dotan E, Lubner S, Kumar P, Mulcahy M, Fisher G, Crandall T, Benson A. Paclitaxel With or Without Cixutumumab as Second-Line Treatment of Metastatic Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: A Randomized Phase II ECOG-ACRIN Trial. The Oncologist 2023, 28: 827-e822. PMID: 37104870, PMCID: PMC10485278, DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad096.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalSecond-line therapyGastroesophageal junction cancerArm AMetastatic esophagealJunction cancerArm BMedian progression-free survivalRandomized phase II trialMedian overall survivalObjective response rateSecond-line treatmentAdvanced esophageal cancerInsulin-like growth factor 1 receptorPhase II trialStandard of careGrowth factor 1 receptorFactor 1 receptorStable diseaseII trialMetastatic settingPrimary endpointOverall survivalPreclinical evidenceClinical outcomesScreening for extranodal extension in HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma: evaluation of a CT-based deep learning algorithm in patient data from a multicentre, randomised de-escalation trial
Kann B, Likitlersuang J, Bontempi D, Ye Z, Aneja S, Bakst R, Kelly H, Juliano A, Payabvash S, Guenette J, Uppaluri R, Margalit D, Schoenfeld J, Tishler R, Haddad R, Aerts H, Garcia J, Flamand Y, Subramaniam R, Burtness B, Ferris R. Screening for extranodal extension in HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma: evaluation of a CT-based deep learning algorithm in patient data from a multicentre, randomised de-escalation trial. The Lancet Digital Health 2023, 5: e360-e369. PMID: 37087370, PMCID: PMC10245380, DOI: 10.1016/s2589-7500(23)00046-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExtranodal extensionOropharyngeal carcinomaShort-axis diameterChallenging cohortPathology reportsECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research GroupDe-escalation trialsCancer Research GroupDe-escalation strategiesSurgical pathology reportsNational Cancer InstituteInter-reader agreementLargest short-axis diameterPostoperative chemoradiationProtocol exclusionsConcurrent chemoradiationPrimary endpointMulticentre trialPretreatment CTAdjuvant strategiesHuman papillomavirusTreatment selection toolUS National InstitutesPretreatment identificationStudy protocolDigital spatial profiling links beta-2-microglobulin expression with immune checkpoint blockade outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Gavrielatou N, Vathiotis I, Aung T, Shafi S, Burela S, Fernandez A, Moutafi M, Burtness B, Economopoulou P, Anastasiou M, Foukas P, Psyrri A, Rimm D. Digital spatial profiling links beta-2-microglobulin expression with immune checkpoint blockade outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Research Communications 2023, 3: 558-563. PMID: 37057033, PMCID: PMC10088911, DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0299.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDigital spatial profilingB2M expressionOverall survivalM HNSCCImmunotherapy outcomesNeck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatmentHigh beta-2 microglobulinSquamous cell carcinoma treatmentCell death protein 1Neck squamous cell carcinomaM expressionPretreatment biopsy samplesImmune checkpoint inhibitorsPD-L1 expressionImmune checkpoint markersDeath protein 1Squamous cell carcinomaB2MBeta-2-microglobulinBeta 2 microglobulin expressionImproved PFSCheckpoint inhibitorsMetastatic headCheckpoint markersImproved survivalRandomized Phase II Trial of Ficlatuzumab With or Without Cetuximab in Pan-Refractory, Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
Bauman J, Saba N, Roe D, Bauman J, Kaczmar J, Bhatia A, Muzaffar J, Julian R, Wang S, Bearelly S, Baker A, Steuer C, Giri A, Burtness B, Centuori S, Caulin C, Klein R, Saboda K, Obara S, Chung C. Randomized Phase II Trial of Ficlatuzumab With or Without Cetuximab in Pan-Refractory, Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 3851-3862. PMID: 36977289, DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.01994.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedian progression-free survivalProgression-free survivalObjective response rateRecurrent/metastatic headCMET overexpressionMetastatic headCombination armAntiepidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodyNoncomparative phase II studyRecurrent/metastatic HNSCCRandomized phase II trialEnd pointNeck squamous cell carcinomaHPV negative subgroupPhase II studyPrimary end pointSecondary end pointsHPV-positive diseaseHuman papillomavirus (HPV) statusMajor prognostic factorPhase II trialKey eligibility criteriaSquamous cell carcinomaReceptor monoclonal antibodyHPV-negative HNSCCFirst-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer—What Happened?
Burtness B. First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer—What Happened? Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 2134-2137. PMID: 36877893, DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02349.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTop advances of the year: Head and neck cancer
Verma A, Burtness B. Top advances of the year: Head and neck cancer. Cancer 2023, 129: 1308-1312. PMID: 36692372, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34654.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalFavorable-risk patientsRisk patientsNeck cancerHuman papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancerGemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapyImmature survival dataVirus-related cancersIntermediate-risk patientsFirst-line treatmentPhase 3 trialCooperative group trialsTreatment deintensificationMetastatic headOverall survivalPostoperative therapySmoking historyOropharyngeal cancerAntibody nivolumabCisplatin chemotherapyTransoral resectionTransoral surgeryNasopharyngeal cancerGroup trialsGy radiationTreating Head and Neck Cancer in the Age of Immunotherapy: A 2023 Update
Bhatia A, Burtness B. Treating Head and Neck Cancer in the Age of Immunotherapy: A 2023 Update. Drugs 2023, 83: 217-248. PMID: 36645621, DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01835-2.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConceptsNeck cancerRecurrent/metastatic settingImmune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumabNeck squamous cell carcinomaAge of immunotherapyLate stage HNSCCImmune checkpoint inhibitionPlatinum-containing chemotherapyFirst-line treatmentGrowth factor receptor overexpressionCheckpoint inhibitor nivolumabSquamous cell carcinomaEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressionPathogenesis of HNSCCTreatment of patientsTreatment of HNSCCManagement of headMonoclonal antibody cetuximabCurative intentPalliative chemotherapyAdvanced diseaseInhibitor nivolumabLocoregional failureMetastatic settingMultimodality therapy
2022
Outcomes Stratification of Head and Neck Cancer Using Pre- and Post-treatment DNA Methylation From Peripheral Blood
Qian D, Ulrich B, Peng G, Zhao H, Conneely K, Miller A, Bruner D, Eldridge R, Wommack E, Higgins K, Shin D, Saba N, Smith A, Burtness B, Park H, Stokes W, Beitler J, Xiao C. Outcomes Stratification of Head and Neck Cancer Using Pre- and Post-treatment DNA Methylation From Peripheral Blood. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2022, 115: 1217-1228. PMID: 36410685, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.11.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecurrence-free survivalWorse recurrence-free survivalOverall survivalMethylation risk scoreRadiation therapyValidation cohortPeripheral bloodDiscovery cohortOutcome stratificationShorter recurrence-free survivalNeck squamous cell carcinomaGastrostomy tube insertionHigher neutrophil countOral cavity cancerAforementioned risk factorsSquamous cell carcinomaPeripheral blood samplesNonmetastatic HNSCCNeutrophil countPrognostic factorsCox regressionPrognostic valueCell carcinomaTube insertionImmune modulationPembrolizumab 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, Psyrri A, Brana I, Basté N, Neupane P, Bratland Å, Fuereder T, Hughes BGM, Mesia R, Ngamphaiboon N, Rordorf T, Ishak W, Lin J, Gumuscu B, Swaby RF, Rischin D. Pembrolizumab With or Without Chemotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2022, 41: 790-802. PMID: 36219809, PMCID: PMC9902012, DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.02508.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 CPSNeck squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaRecurrent/metastatic headMetastatic headCell carcinomaOverall survivalNext-line therapyObjective response ratePembrolizumab-based therapyProgression-free survivalDeath ligand 1Long-term efficacyKEYNOTE-048Data cutoffSurvival benefitTotal populationMedian studyPembrolizumabResponse rateCarcinomaPositive scoreLigand 1Subsequent treatmentEfficacyClinical Trial Development in TP53-Mutated Locally Advanced and Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Rodriguez CP, Kang H, Geiger JL, Burtness B, Chung CH, Pickering CR, Fakhry C, Le QT, Yom SS, Galloway TJ, Golemis E, Li A, Shoop J, Wong S, Mehra R, Skinner H, Saba NF, Flores ER, Myers JN, Ford JM, Karchin R, Ferris RL, Kunos C, Lynn JM, Malik S. Clinical Trial Development in TP53-Mutated Locally Advanced and Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2022, 114: 1619-1627. PMID: 36053203, PMCID: PMC9745425, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djac163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeck squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaClinical trialsCell carcinomaTrial designTP53 mutationsNational Clinical Trials NetworkMetastatic disease settingsClinical trial developmentClinical Trials NetworkNovel therapeutic approachesNational Cancer InstituteMetastatic headTP53-mutated tumorsWorse outcomesClinical studiesFrequent genetic eventTherapeutic approachesCancer InstituteTrial developmentBreakout groupsPatientsDisease settingsBiomarker integrationTrials NetworkIntegrating Targeted Therapies in the Management of Head and Neck Cancers
Burtness B. Integrating Targeted Therapies in the Management of Head and Neck Cancers. The Cancer Journal 2022, 28: 329-330. PMID: 36165719, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000624.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhase II Study of Enzalutamide for Patients With Androgen Receptor–Positive Salivary Gland Cancers (Alliance A091404)
Ho AL, Foster NR, Zoroufy AJ, Campbell JD, Worden F, Price K, Adkins D, Bowles DW, Kang H, Burtness B, Sherman E, Morton R, Morris LGT, Nadeem Z, Katabi N, Munster P, Schwartz GK. Phase II Study of Enzalutamide for Patients With Androgen Receptor–Positive Salivary Gland Cancers (Alliance A091404). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2022, 40: 4240-4249. PMID: 35867947, PMCID: PMC9916043, DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.00229.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary gland cancerPrimary end pointProgression-free survivalAndrogen receptorStable diseaseEnd pointOverall survivalPartial responseGland cancerTumor regressionPartial response/stable diseaseBest overall response rateMedian progression-free survivalResponse/stable diseaseHuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2Epidermal growth factor receptor 2Common adverse eventsMedian overall survivalPhase II studySecondary end pointsPhase II trialFree testosterone levelsGrowth factor receptor 2Overall response rateProgression of disease