AUTHOR=Salvestrini Viola , Caini Saverio , Scricciolo Melissa , Saerens Michael , Bollen Heleen , Bonomo Pierluigi , Caparrotti Francesca , Lorini Luigi , Oliva Marc , Urbanowicz-Nijaki Maria , Szturz Petr 

TITLE=Immunotherapy in elderly head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1395838

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2024.1395838

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Over the past years, there has been a growing interest in the role of immunotherapy in locally advanced (LA) and recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). High-quality data from prospective trials are lacking for the elderly subpopulation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in older patients.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A systematic literature search was conducted. Randomized clinical trials providing outcome data on a subgroup of elderly (&gt;65 years old) were available for meta-analysis. Primary outcomes of interest were OS and PFS for efficacy analysis.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Seven studies were included in the systematic review and four in the efficacy analysis. The pooled analysis of OS and PFS showed a consistent benefit (HR 0.78 and 0.91, respectively).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Immunotherapy may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option in the elderly population, but more prospective and randomized data are needed.</p></sec><sec><title>Systematic Review Registration</title><p>PROSPERO (CRD42022333891).</p></sec>