The impact of concurrent chemotherapy and immunotherapy has been well characterized in patients with recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-SCCHN). Here, we report outcomes in patients treated sequentially with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Patients with RM-SCCHN treated with ICI followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel at a single institution were identified retrospectively. ICI therapy history, p16, and PD-L1 status were collected. The best overall response was assessed by RECIST v1.1.

Twelve patients met inclusion criteria. Eight patients received pembrolizumab, three durvalumab, and one nivolumab. The median duration of ICI was 3.44 months, median PFS was 5.8 months, and median OS was 15.2 months. 66.7% of patients had an objective response on carboplatin/paclitaxel.

Carboplatin/paclitaxel can induce objective responses in patients with prior treatment with ICI and clinical outcomes in this small series compare favorably to those seen in ICI naïve patients.