ASCO 2021 | De-escalating chemo-radiotherapy in locally advanced HPV+ oropharynx cancer

Marshall R. Posner, MD, The Tisch Cancer Institute, New York, NY, describes an analysis of patients with locally advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharynx cancer (OPC) from two different trials (NCT02945631, NCT01706939) who received induction chemotherapy followed by de-escalated chemoradiotherapy. 32 patients, who had risk factors such as extranodal extensions, T4 lesions, or N2c disease were enrolled for analysis and had a favorable overall response (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with no treatment-related mortalities. The results highlight the efficacy of radiotherapy de-escalation for patients with locally advanced HPV positive OPC. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 Virtual Meeting.