Head/neck Cancer & PD-L1 testing-FSP Precision Medicine Speaker #6 - Head-Neck Cancer

FSP Precision Medicine Speaker #6 - Head-Neck Cancer - Juan Hernandez Prera

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker reviews PD-L1 testing in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. PD-L1 determines eligibility for immunotherapy, and testing has expanded from advanced/recurrent disease to nearly all newly diagnosed cases, especially after neoadjuvant immunotherapy studies. Testing is done by immunohistochemistry and interpreted using combined positive score (CPS), counting tumor and immune cells. Key challenges include limited tissue, biopsy representativeness, spatial heterogeneity, subjective interpretation, and inconsistent reporting methods. Important thresholds are CPS >1 for treatment eligibility and CPS >20 for stronger predictive value, though overall immunotherapy response remains modest.

Keywords

PD-L1 testing

head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

combined positive score

immunotherapy eligibility

spatial heterogeneity