Dr Ravindra Uppaluri speaks to ecancer about neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC).

The phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 clinical trial evaluates the addition of pembrolizumab to standard care for advanced head and neck cancer.

Traditional treatments have not yielded optimal results, prompting this innovative study.

Key findings indicate that pembrolizumab improves event-free survival and allows many patients to undergo planned surgeries.

This new approach integrates neoadjuvant pembrolizumab with surgery and adjuvant therapy, emphasising the need for collaboration among medical specialities.