Immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

SummaryObjectivesTo review the current state of immunotherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Materials and MethodsReview of the literature with emphasis on clinical trial data.ResultsPatients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have long been known to be immunosuppressed. This impairment of the immune system is believed, at least in part, to underlie the poor outcomes in this patient population. Modulating the immune system to improve cancer outcomes is an attractive concept in this difficult to treat population.ConclusionNew studies have started to unravel the mechanisms of immunosuppression and new therapies are being developed to exploit this new information.