At the MOASC Spotlight 2025 in Newport, California, Dr. Victoria M. Villaflor, MD, shared exciting head and neck cancer ASCO 2025 updates. As Director of UCI Health’s Head and Neck Oncology Program, she focuses on team-based care and new therapies. Moreover, her interview highlights key trials like C-POST, NIVOPOSTOP, and advances in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). These head and neck cancer ASCO 2025 findings offer hope for better outcomes. Let’s explore the top insights.
Cemiplimab: A New Standard for Skin Cancer
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) often returns—up to 30% of cases within five years after surgery and radiation. However, the C-POST trial, featured at ASCO 2025 head and neck cancer, proved cemiplimab’s value. This study showed a 23% boost in disease-free survival (DFS) at three years (p<0.0001), making it a go-to option for high-risk patients.
Dr. Villaflor said:
“Cemiplimab was a practice-changing trial. For cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with high-risk features, I’d be inclined to give adjuvant cemiplimab after surgery and radiation.”
In contrast, pembrolizumab’s Keynote 630 trial showed no clear benefit, likely due to delays in starting therapy. For example, earlier data (NEJM, Neil D. Gross, MD) supports cemiplimab’s strong results. Thus, this head and neck cancer ASCO 2025 breakthrough reshapes SCC care.
Nivolumab for Urgent HNSCC Cases
Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a 40-45% recurrence rate after surgery. Therefore, teams at MOASC Spotlight 2025 use tumor growth and PDL-1 status to choose treatments. The NIVOPOSTOP trial showed nivolumab improves DFS by ~10% at three years, with minor side effects like swallowing issues.
Dr. Villaflor explained:
“Somebody with a rapidly growing tumor or high risk of airway loss might be better for the nivolumab post-op regimen: surgery, then nivolumab with chemo and radiation.”
For slower-growing tumors, pembrolizumab (Keynote 689) reduces metastases. She added:
“Somebody who may have a tumor that is not as rapidly growing… maybe better in undergoing treatment as per the Keynote 689 regimen.”
These head and neck cancer ASCO 2025 insights guide tailored care via team decisions.
Becotatug Vedotin: Hope for NPC
Metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) lacks good options after first treatments fail. However, Becotatug vedotin, an EGFR-targeted therapy, nearly doubled progression-free survival (PFS) in a small trial for third-line NPC. Consequently, it offers new hope for younger patients.
Dr. Villaflor highlighted:
“The new EGFR-directed ADC, Becotatug vedotin, gives us more tools to help patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer live longer after initial treatments fail.”
Discussed at MOASC Spotlight 2025, this builds on first-line progress like cisplatin-gemcitabine with toripalimab (JUPITER-02). Further research is needed, but head and neck cancer ASCO 2025 marks a step forward.
Takeaways for Better Cancer Care
The head and neck cancer ASCO 2025 session at MOASC Spotlight 2025 shows precision medicine’s power:
Team-based care with PDL-1 testing is key.
Cemiplimab sets a new bar for cutaneous SCC.
Nivolumab and pembrolizumab fit HNSCC risk levels.
Becotatug vedotin boosts NPC survival.