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Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Predicts Improved Survival in HPV‑Negative Head and Neck Cancer

MedXY Editorial Team•Nov 21, 2025•news
head and neck cancerneoadjuvant immunotherapypathologic response

Highlight

– In a pooled cohort (n=79) from two neoadjuvant nivolumab trials, a pathologic treatment effect (pTE) threshold of 57% defined responders versus low/nonresponders.
– Among 40 patients with HPV‑negative resectable HNSCC, pathologic responders (pTE >57%) had 100% 3‑year disease‑free and overall survival versus 66.8% and 73.3%, respectively, in low/nonresponders.
– In HPV‑positive disease, high 3‑year disease‑free survival was observed regardless of pTE, underscoring different prognostic baselines and implications for biomarker use by HPV status.

Background: clinical context and unmet need

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This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

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