Pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) in neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting extends event‐free survival in locally advanced HNSCC

In the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study, pembrolizumab plus SOC increased median EFS from 26.9 to 59.7 months in the PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 10 group, and from 29.6 to 59.7 months in the CPS ≥ 1 group. The major pathological response rate improved by 13.7% in the CPS ≥ 10 group, and by 9.8% in the CPS ≥ 1 group. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 TRAEs was similar between pembrolizumab plus SOC and SOC alone (44.6% vs. 42.9%).