Baral, Binav

TPS6126 Background: Oral cavity cancers (OCC) are a rare subtype of head and neck cancer (HNC) with poor outcomes and limited second-line treatment options in the recurrent or metastatic (R/M) setting. Treatment-related morbidity and repeated local recurrences in OCC result in significant impairment of function and quality of life. Rural OCC patients comprise a sizable portion (50%) of our practice and are usually of lower socioeconomic status with lack of access to specialist care. They also have multiple barriers to treatment access and ancillary services, translating to poorer clinical outcomes. There is a critical need for effective and accessible therapies for R/M OCC in rural patients. Triple oral metronomic chemotherapy (TOMC) with Methotrexate, Erlotinib and Celecoxib (MEC) suppresses angiogenesis and activates antitumor microenvironment in HNC. Studies using TOMC in R/M OCC outside the US show reasonable efficacy (6-month OS 52.9%), better safety and lower cost compared to standard second line options. We hypothesize that a decentralized clinical trial with TOMC in R/M OCC is feasible, safe and effective in addition to being economical and accessible for rural patients. Methods: MC240701 is a single institution, open label, decentralized, single arm pilot study of MEC in patients with R/M OCC. Eligible pts must be ≥18 years old, have pathologically confirmed R/M OCC not amenable to curative-intent therapy, ECOG 0-2 and adequate organ function. At least 1 measurable lesion by RECIST 1.1 OR non-measurable disease (evident mucosal lesions, CNS/bone disease, lesions not meeting RECIST criteria) is permitted. Patients must have received standard first line immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy OR should be unable/unwilling to receive first line treatment. Key exclusion criteria include patients unable to take pills by mouth, serious medical co-morbidity or autoimmune disease, immunocompromised patients and other active malignancy. Primary endpoint is to demonstrate feasibility of decentralized clinical trials, secondary outcomes include overall response rate, progression free and overall survival and toxicity. Additional goals are to evaluate patient impact of decentralized treatment through surveys and interviews After initial screening and evaluation, patients are remotely consented and will receive study drugs by mail. All patients will receive the same treatment of Methotrexate 9mg/m 2 PO weekly, Erlotinib 150 mg PO daily, and Celecoxib 200 mg PO BID, each cycle will be 28 days. Treatment will continue until disease progression or treatment tolerance, study duration is for 2 years. All subsequent clinical and laboratory monitoring and response assessments (every 3 cycles) will be remotely performed or have an option for local testing. Enrollment began July 2025 and 4 out of planned 25 patients have been accrued. FDA IND:174540. Clinical trial information: NCT06997068 .

e18026 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is part of standard of care first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC. However, less than 20% of patients (CPS ≥1) have an objective response to ICI monotherapy, and most tumors progress within ~3 months. We sought to improve the proportion of patients who benefit from a chemotherapy-free regimen by combining intratumoral (IT) VV1 oncolytic virus (VSV-IFNβ-NIS) injections with the anti-PD-1 antibody, cemiplimab. We report a pre-planned analysis of Simon's stage 1 results. Methods: We activated a phase 2 study testing the efficacy of first line IT VV1 plus cemiplimab in 1 st line patients with R/M HNSCC. A Simon's two-stage design was employed whereby 10 patients would be accrued in stage 1, and if 3 or more responses were observed, 12 additional patients would be accrued for stage 2. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) per investigator (RECIST 1.1). Eligible patients had untreated R/M HNSCC from primary oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, or larynx sites with CPS ≥1. Patients had to have at least one measurable lesion amenable to IT injection. Treatment comprised of IT injections to 1-5 lesions of oncolytic VV-1 virus and IV cemiplimab 350 mg on day 1, repeated every 21 days. Each lesion could be injected 3 times; a 4th injection was allowed if a partial response (PR) was achieved after 3 injections. Cemiplimab could be continued for up to 2 years until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: Patient and tumor characteristics, as well as efficacy and toxicity are summarized in the table below. Ten patients were treated at the time of Stage 1 analysis, with 3 showing a confirmed PR for ORR of 30%. Responder CPS scores were 45, 12 and 20%. Two of the responders subsequently showed progression after 6.2 and 9.9 months, the third has maintained PR at 7.7 months to date. Eight of 10 patients showed decrease in the sum of target lesion size (mean decrease of 16%; range -57 to 77%). One grade 2 event of ICI nephritis resolved with corticosteroid treatment. Conclusions: Three patients showed confirmed PR by RECIST 1.1 in Simon's stage 1, meeting criteria to proceed to Simon's stage 2. A total of 22 patients in the HNSCC will be enrolled. VV1 plus cemiplimab shows promise in first line R/M HNSCC based on these initial results. Clinical trial information: NCT04291105 . Patient demographics. N (treated) 10 Sex 20% female Median age (y) 60 (54 – 76) Oropharynx 7 HPV+ 7 Oral cavity 3 PD-L1 CPS median (range) 7.5 (1-45%) Locoregional injection 3 Distant injection 6 Local and distant injection 1 Best response (RECIST 1.1) PR 3 SD 5 PD 2 Adverse Events #pts any VV1/cemiplimab-related G3 AE 4 Lymphopenia 3 Elevated ALK 1

9557 Background: High-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) is administered following tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, yet cardiotoxicity frequently limits dose delivery. The clinical significance of peri-dose troponin elevations during IL-2 remains poorly defined. We evaluated troponin kinetics during IL-2 dosing and their association with significant cardiac events and IL-2 interruption. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with metastatic melanoma treated with TIL therapy followed by inpatient high-dose IL-2 at Mayo Clinic Rochester (N = 24; 87 IL-2 doses). High-sensitivity troponin and ECGs were obtained before and after each IL-2 dose. Clinically significant cardiac events were defined as QTc prolongation > 480 ms, arrhythmias (excluding isolated sinus tachycardia), new ECG abnormalities, vasopressor requirement, or cardiology consultation. Dose-level outcomes included cardiac events and subsequent IL-2 dose interruption. Paired troponin changes were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank testing. Dose-level associations were evaluated using clustered logistic regression to account for repeated IL-2 doses within patients. Results: 24 patients received 87 IL-2 doses (median 3 [IQR 2 - 5]). Median age was 63 years (IQR 54 - 70), and 58% were male. Baseline troponin median was 11 ng/L (IQR 6 - 21); 38% had baseline troponin > 14 ng/L. Post-dose troponin exceeded 14 ng/L in 16/24 patients (67%) and 48/87 doses (52%). Median delta troponin was 0 ng/L (IQR −1 to 6; range −24 to 133), with post-dose levels higher than pre-dose values ( p = 0.02). Clinically significant cardiac events occurred in 33% of patients; no post-IL-2 reductions in left ventricular ejection fraction were observed. At the dose level, cardiac events occurred only when post-dose troponin exceeded 14 ng/L (15/48 [31%] vs 0/39 doses; p < 0.001). In clustered logistic regression, post-dose troponin ≥15 ng/L was independently associated with cardiac events (OR 9.6, 95% CI 1.5 - 60.6; p = 0.02) and subsequent IL-2 dose interruption (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1 - 10.7; p = 0.04). When modeled continuously, each 1-unit increase in log-transformed post-dose troponin was associated with higher odds of cardiac events (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.6 - 6.7; p = 0.001) and IL-2 interruption (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6 - 4.9; p < 0.001). Baseline troponin correlated with peak post-dose troponin (ρ = 0.44, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Peri-dose troponin elevations are common during post-TIL high-dose IL-2; however, higher post-dose troponin independently identifies clinically significant cardiac toxicity and predicts IL-2 interruption after accounting for repeated dosing within patients. Baseline troponin modestly predicts peak elevations, supporting standardized, risk-stratified troponin monitoring and prospective evaluation of toxicity-adaptive IL-2 delivery strategies in TIL therapy.

Management of locoregionally advanced human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+) OPSCC) can include induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiation. The standard induction regimen of cisplatin, docetaxel, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) is associated with high toxicity. Given the chemosensitivity of HPV(+) OPSCC, platinum doublets are frequently used as induction therapy with potentially less toxicity. This retrospective study aimed to compare outcomes between treatment-naive HPV(+) OPSCC patients receiving induction TPF and those receiving an induction platinum doublet. Data collected included tumor characteristics, response after chemoradiation, hospitalization rates, and overall survival (OS). Fifty-five patients (18 TPF and 37 platinum doublet) were included. There was no significant difference in response after completion of definitive chemoradiation (TPF: CR 83.3%, PR 5.6%, progression or metastasis 11.1% vs. platinum doublet: CR 75.7%, PR 16.2%, progression or metastasis 8.1%; p = 0.5241). There were also no differences in hospitalizations for adverse events (38.9% in TPF vs. 40.5% in platinum doublet, p = 0.907) or recurrence (11.1% in TPF vs. 2.7% in platinum doublet, p = 0.198). The 5-year OS was 84.6% in the TPF group and 81.5% in the platinum doublet group (p = 0.581). Induction platinum doublet regimens offer comparable OS, response, and hospitalization rates to TPF in locally advanced HPV(+) OPSCC. Induction with a platinum doublet may be a viable de-escalation strategy for patients who are not candidates for TPF.

IMPORTANCE Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has high rates of pathologic response and improved prognosis among solid tumors. Its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains understudied. OBJECTIVE To summarize the efficacy associated with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy regimens in HNSCC and to compare the efficacy associated with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy vs immunotherapy alone in locoregionally advanced resectable HNSCC prior to definitive surgery. DATA SOURCES A librarian-led systematic review was conducted using multiple electronic databases, including Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases were queried from inception to October 2024. STUDY SELECTION Inclusion criteria included prospective interventional trials that have completed accrual, with results published in English. Only trials of resectable, treatment-naive HNSCC were included. Exclusion criteria included lack of reporting on pathologic response or Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 response. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two investigators independently conducted title, abstract, and full-text reviews per PRISMA guidelines. Primary outcomes extracted were major pathologic response (MPR) and complete pathologic response (CPR) at surgery and complete response (CR) on imaging by RECIST 1.1. Secondary outcomes included 1-year overall survival (OS) and toxic effects. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES A meta-analysis was performed using a binary random-effects model to determine the pooled proportion of primary outcomes in the immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy groups. Heterogeneity was reported as I 2 . RESULTS A total of 751 patients (502 [77%] male; age range, 27-87 years) across 23 studies were included in the meta-analysis, including 357 patients (47%) who underwent chemoimmunotherapy, 102 patients (14%) who underwent dual-agent immunotherapy, and 292 patients (39%) who underwent single-agent immunotherapy. Pooled rates of MPR plus CPR were 66% (95% CI, 58%-73%; I 2 = 0.59) for chemoimmunotherapy, 18% (95% CI, 6%-29%; I 2 = 0.65) for dual-agent immunotherapy, and 6% (95% CI, 3%-9%; I 2 &amp;lt; 0.01) for single-agent immunotherapy. Across all groups, 1-year OS rates ranged from 88% to 96% for single-agent immunotherapy, 88% to 96% for dual-agent immunotherapy, and 88% to 100% for chemoimmunotherapy. Grade 3 to 5 adverse events were reported in 61 of 210 patients (29%), 2 of 67 patients (3.0%), and 36 of 210 patients (17%) among the reporting studies in the single-agent immunotherapy, dual-agent immunotherapy, and chemoimmunotherapy groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy regimens were associated with higher pathologic and radiographic response rates compared with immunotherapy alone in locoregionally advanced HNSCC. These results call for phase 3 trials comparing these neoadjuvant regimens head to head.

e18031 Background: HPV+ OPSCC has better outcomes than HPV negative OPSCC but more distant metastatic potential. ICM in HPV+ OPSCC are rare. Data regarding risk factors, clinical presentation and outcomes after ICM diagnosis is limited. This study describes clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients (pts) with HPV+ OPSCC who develop ICM. Methods: Retrospective analysis of pts with HPV+ OPSCC and ICM between 2010 - 2024. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and survival data was collected. Skull base recurrences were excluded. Univariate and multivariate analyses used Cox proportional hazard models; continuous variables binarized by receiver operator curves. Survival assessed via Kaplan-Meier method; reported as median (95% CI). Calculations use BlueSky (v10.3.1). Results: Among 1,999 pts with HPV+ OPSCC, 16 (0.8%) had ICM. Pt characteristics and treatment are summarized in Table 1. Primary tumor sites were base of tongue (56%), tonsil (38%), and unknown (13%). Most pts (n=8, 50%) presented with stage IV disease (6 extracranial metastasis (ECM), 1 ICM only, 1 both). Frontal and parietal lobes were the most frequent ICM sites. Neurological symptoms were present in 10 (62%) pts; ICM was incidentally found in 6 (38%) pts. Median overall survival (mOS) from initial diagnosis was 34 months (21 – not reached) and median time from diagnosis to ICM was 24 months (range 1-112). mOS following ICM detection was 10.9 months (4 -18). On multivariate analysis, only surgical resection (hazard ratio [HR] 0.03, p<0.01) and radiotherapy (HR 0.01, p<0.02) were independently associated with post-ICM survival. With median follow up of 100 months, 14 pts (88%) had died; 2 (12%) were alive. Conclusions: ICM from HPV+ OPSCC are rare but devastating with a mOS <1 year from detection. Most pts were symptomatic, had de novo metastatic disease, and had other sites of metastases. Surgical resection and radiation were associated with improved OS. Multicenter efforts to investigate predictors, multiomic sequencing and identification of pt subsets who may benefit from ICM screening are warranted. Baseline characteristics of Pts with ICM in HPV+ OPSCC. Variable Summary statistics (n=16) Median age (range) 58 (34-71) Male 14 (88%) Smoking history 10 (60%) Clinical stage at diagnosis Stage I: 4 (25%) Stage II: 2 (12.5%) Stage III: 2 (12.5%) Stage IV: 8 (50%) Symptoms at ICM diagnosis Incidental: 6 (38%)Neurological: 10 (62%) Seizure (n=3) Motor/Sensory symptoms (n=3) Altered mental status (n=2) Cognitive symptoms (n=1) Dizziness (n=1) ICM site Frontal lobe: 7 (44%) Parietal lobe: 7 (44%) Occipital lobe: 4 (25%) Temporal lobe: 2 (13%) Cerebellum: 2 (13%) Concurrent ECM Bone: 11 (69%) Lung: 9 (56%) Lymph node: 6 (38%) Liver: 5 (31%) Kidney: 1 (6%) Cranial nerve: 1 (6%) Treatment after ICM Radiotherapy: 15 (94%) Chemotherapy: 10 (63%) Immunotherapy: 9 (56%) Surgery: 8 (50%)

6106 Background: Treatment options for pts with R/M SGC are limited. Responses to chemotherapy (CT) are low with high toxicity and responses to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) are <10%. Pemetrexed (PTX) is safe and tolerable with responses reported in pts with R/M SGC. 1 Given enhanced responses with PTX and pembrolizumab (PMB) for lung cancer, we hypothesized that PTX and PMB will have activity for SGC. Herein we present the efficacy results in pts with non-adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Methods: MC200708 is a single arm phase II study of PTX and PMB in pts with R/M SGC (NCT04895735). Pts were treated in 2 cohorts: ACC (cohort A) and non-ACC (cohort B). Key eligibility criteria: ≥18 years, ECOG 0-1, measurable disease. Prior ICI and/or PTX was allowed. Key exclusion criteria: serious comorbidities, autoimmune disease, and brain metastases. Simon’s 2-stage design was used for each cohort. Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints: progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. All pts received PTX 500 mg/m2 IV + PMB 200 mg IV q3 weeks until progression or treatment intolerance. Imaging was q3 cycles. Results: 25 pts were enrolled Aug 2021-Feb 2024; 1 cancelled prior to treatment. Of 24 eligible and treated pts, median age was 59.5 years (46-77), 66.7% male, performance status 0 (62.5%) or 1 (37.5%). Histologies were salivary duct carcinoma (SDC, 11), acinic cell carcinoma (8), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC, 3), myoepithelial carcinoma (1), and carcinoma NOS (1). 7 pts had no prior therapies (29.2%). The remaining pts had 1 (33.3%), 2 (29.2%), or ≥ 3 lines of therapy (8.3%). 83.3% of pts had no prior ICI. Median cycles of treatment was 8 (2-34), and duration of response was 12.5 months (4.1-20.6). 9 of 24 pts had a confirmed partial response (PR) for ORR of 37.5% (CI: 18.8-59.4). PRs were seen in 7 pts with SDC (7 of 11, 63.6% PR), 1 with MEC, and 1 with acinic cell. Stable disease (SD) was seen in 5 (20.8%), progressive disease in 8 (33.3%), and 2 didn’t have post-baseline imaging, but were considered non-responders per protocol. Clinical benefit rate was 58.3% (CI: 36.6-77.9). With median follow-up of 12.0 months (2-34.7), median OS is 20.7 months (CI: 17.3-not reached) and median PFS is 6.2 months (CI: 2.1-17.3). 1-year OS and PFS rate is 76.3% (95% CI: 59.9-97.2) and 36.1% (CI: 21.01-62.2), respectively. Common toxicities were grade 1 fatigue and nausea. 6 pts (25.0%) had ≥1 grade 3-4 toxicity possibly related to treatment, mostly hematologic. The 4 pts with grade 3-4 non-heme toxicity had grade 3 fatigue, rash, and heart failure, and 1 grade 4 hypokalemia. Correlative studies investigating biomarkers of response are underway. Conclusions: PTX and PMB has activity in pts with R/M SGC, with promising responses in pts with SDC and median response duration of 1 year. 1 Viscuse et al. Head Neck 2019;41(6):E99-103. Clinical trial information: NCT04895735 .

ABSTRACTBackgroundRecurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck (SCCHN) remains a formidable clinical challenge despite available treatments. The phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway has been identified as a potential therapeutic target, and alpelisib, a selective PI3Kα inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in certain malignancies. Combining this targeted therapy with immunotherapy has been suggested in previous studies as a promising strategy to bolster the immune response against cancer.CasesA 69‐year‐old woman with locoregional recurrence of PIK3CA‐mutated SCC of the left maxilla and cervical nodal metastases. Several chemotherapeutic regimens, including cisplatin, docetaxel, 5FU, chemoradiotherapy, and mono‐immunotherapy, resulted in disease progression. Alpelisib combined with pembrolizumab led to a sustained response for 9 months. A 58‐year‐old man with recurrent metastatic PIK3CA‐mutated SCC of the oropharynx, involving the left lung, hilar, and mediastinal lymph nodes. Despite prior palliative radiation and platinum‐based chemotherapy with pembrolizumab and cetuximab, treatment with alpelisib and nivolumab resulted in a partial response. Severe hyperglycemia and rash led to treatment discontinuation.ConclusionOur findings highlight the potential of this innovative therapeutic combination, suggesting a need for further investigations in this setting.

AbstractBackgroundHead and neck cancers (HNC) present diagnostic challenges due to multifocal disease manifestations, posing difficulties in distinguishing between metastatic disease and second primary malignancies (SPM). This complexity underscores the need for advanced diagnostic approaches. Emerging technologies, such as next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and molecular classifier assays, show promise in providing precise insights into the diverse etiologies of HNC.MethodIn this article, we employed NGS and molecular classifier assays to delve into three distinct clinical cases. The objective was to showcase the instrumental role of these technologies in facilitating accurate diagnoses and differentiating between metastatic disease and SPM in HNC cases.ResultsThe results of this series highlight the effectiveness of NGS and molecular classifier assays in enhancing diagnostic accuracy for HNC and contributing to the precise differentiation of disease etiologies. The utilization of these advanced technologies proved instrumental in avoiding unnecessary interventions and paved the way for more targeted and effective treatment strategies.ConclusionOur findings underscore the necessity of incorporating advanced molecular testing technologies into the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for HNC, thereby championing a more nuanced and effective approach to managing these complex cases.

e16193 Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is curative for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients within the Milan criteria. Readmissions are common postoperatively, and can be associated with increased morbidity and healthcare burden. Hence we aim to identify incidence, impact and independent predictors for readmission in patients who underwent LT in HCC. Methods: Retrospective study of the 2017 National Readmission Database (NRD) of adult patients readmitted within 30 days after an index admission for LT with an underlying diagnosis of HCC, in patients with cirrhosis we used the BAVENO score to categorize between compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. We aim to identify 30-day readmission rate, mortality, healthcare related utilization resources and independent predictors of readmission. Results: A total of 2,092 patients with HCC underwent liver transplantation. The 30-day readmission rate was 25.6%. Main causes for readmission were post-surgical complications from LT, sepsis, liver failure. Readmitted patients were less likely to have private insurance (40.5% vs 34.5%; P<0.01), to be obese (18.2% vs 7.9%; P<0.01), hypertensive (51.2% vs 39.5%; P<0.01), have history of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (16.5% vs 2.3%; P<0.01). Readmission was associated with higher in-hospital mortality rate (0.1% vs. 1.5%; P<0.01). The total health care in-hospital economic burden of readmission was $56.1 million in total charges and $15.2 million in total costs. Independent predictors of readmission were type 2 diabetes, transfusion of blood products during index admission, protein-caloric malnutrition, sepsis, and preventive factors were younger age, private insurance and cannabis use. Conclusions: Readmissions after LT in HCC are associated with higher mortality and pose a high health care burden. We identified risk factors that can be targeted to decrease overall patient morbidity, mortality and health care burden.[Table: see text]