Pembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Health-related quality-of-life results from KEYNOTE-048
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2022
Abstract
Objectives: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with first-line pembrolizumab, pembrolizumabchemotherapy, or cetuximab-chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-048 trial (NCT02358031). Materials and Methods: HRQoL was measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-question quality-of-life (EORTC QLQ-C30), the EORTC 35-question quality-of-life head and neck cancer-specific module (EORTC QLQ-H & N35), and the EuroQol 5-dimension 3-level instruments (EQ-5D-3L). Secondary endpoints included mean change from baseline in EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/quality of life (GHS/QoL) at week 15 and time to deterioration (TTD) in EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 pain and swallowing. Results: Of 882 enrolled participants, 844 received > 1 dose of study treatment and completed > 1 HRQoL assessment; adherence was > 79% at week 15 across treatment groups. At week 15, EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL scores remained stable; no clinically meaningful between-group differences were observed (least squares mean difference, pembrolizumab vs cetuximab-chemotherapy, 0.24; 95% CI,-3.34 to 3.82; pembrolizumabchemotherapy vs cetuximab-chemotherapy, 0.40; 95% CI,-3.46 to 4.26). Median TTD in EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 pain and swallowing scores was not reached over 51 weeks across groups, showing stable HRQoL. TTD was similar between groups for EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL (pembrolizumab vs cetuximab-chemotherapy: HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.95-2.00; pembrolizumab-chemotherapy vs cetuximabchemotherapy: HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.94-2.00), as was TTD in EORTC QLQ-H&N35 pain and swallowing scores. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab monotherapy and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy extended OS while maintaining HRQoL, further supporting first-line use for R/M HNSCC.
Keywords
Phase III clinical trial, Chemotherapy head and neck neoplasms, Immunotherapy, Patient reported outcome measures, Pembrolizumab
Divisions
oncology
Funders
Ananya Roy,Merck,Merck Sharp and Dohme
Publication Title
Oral Oncology
Volume
128
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS