Immunotherapy drugs show promise for treating HNCs

Immunotherapy drugs are showing promise for treating a range of tumors, and they could be used to treat a variety of cancers, including head and neck cancers (HNCs).

Studies from three major pharmaceutical companies -- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Roche Holding -- are competing to bring new immunotherapy drugs to what could be a multibillion-dollar market, according to a Wall Street Journal story.

Merck's anti-PD-1 drug was well-tolerated in a small study of patients with head and neck cancers, according to the company. Several patients had tumor shrinkage, but the study researchers said more complete efficacy results aren't yet available.

The drugs, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, showed antitumor activity in studies of patients with cancers of the kidney, head, neck and bladder, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Immunotherapy drugs work by helping the body's immune system recognize and attack tumor cells, and physicians say they hold the potential for tumor destruction, with longer benefit duration and less severe side effects than older drugs.

Though relatively well-tolerated compared with older drugs including chemotherapy, the immunotherapy drugs do have side effects, including low blood sodium, anemia, and diarrhea.