On June 10, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Pembrolizumab was approved for use in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU) for all patients and as a single agent for patients whose tumors express PD‑L1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥1) as determined by an FDA‑approved test. The FDA also expanded the intended use for the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit to include use as a companion diagnostic device for selecting patients with HNSCC for treatment with pembrolizumab as a single agent.
Read the FDA announcement.
Posted 6/11/2019
From mental health concerns to fertility preservation, adolescents and young adults with cancer require a specialized approach to treatment and survivorship care. In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, ACCC highlights a pivotal program from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and resources that meet the critical needs of these patients.
