ONCOmmunity

Pooled analysis of nivolumab treatment in patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in the United States and Germany.

By: Prianka Singh, Laura McDonald, Daniela Waldenberger, Manfred Welslau, Eyck von der Heyde, Thomas Gauler, Andreas Dietz

Health Economics Outcomes Research, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA.
2021-07-19; doi: 10.1002/hed.26853

Abstract

Background

In the Phase-III clinical trial, CheckMate 141, nivolumab significantly improved survival versus standard of care in patients with platinum-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN).

Methods

This pooled analysis investigated the real-world effectiveness of nivolumab, following prior platinum-based therapy, in patients with R/M SCCHN from the United States (US) Flatiron Health database and German HANNA prospective observational study.

Results

Overall, 782 patients (56% US; 44% Germany) were included. Median overall survival (OS) was 8.71 months, and progression-free survival was 4.11 months. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status 0 or 1, platinum sensitivity, and older age were associated with longer OS, in which number of prior lines of therapy had no significant effect.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate survival benefits of nivolumab in patients with R/M SCCHN in the real-world setting. The observed real-world effectiveness of nivolumab aligns with the efficacy of nivolumab in CheckMate 141.