Impact of medications on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard treatments for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (RM-HNC). However, variability in treatment response necessitates the exploration of predictive factors, including gut microbiota, which are influenced by antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and statins. This retrospective study assessed the effects of these medications on the clinical outcomes of ICI-treated patients with RM-HNC.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 112 patients with RM-HNC who received nivolumab or pembrolizumab monotherapy between 2017 and 2022 at Nagoya City University Hospital. The effects of medications on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Antibiotic administration within 60 days before ICI initiation was significantly associated with worse OS (median OS, 11.9 vs 20.5 months, p = 0.011) and PFS (median PFS, 3.0 vs 5.8 months, p = 0.018). Subgroup analyses indicated that tetracyclines were particularly detrimental. No significant differences in OS or PFS were observed with PPI or statin administration, and no significant associations of ORR or DCR were detected with antibiotic, PPI, or statin administration.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic administration was associated with worse survival in patients with RM-HNC receiving ICIs. These findings underscore the need for careful consideration of antibiotic administration in patients undergoing ICI therapy and highlight the importance of further research to optimize treatment strategies.