The standard of care for resectable, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has remained largely unchanged for over two decades. Two landmark trials presented at ASCO 2025—KEYNOTE-689 and NIVOPOSTOP—are poised to redefine perioperative and adjuvant therapy paradigms in this space. This article analyzes the clinical relevance of these trials and evaluates their potential integration into oncologic practice, with a focused lens on the Indian healthcare landscape.
Introduction Historically, patients with resectable LA-HNSCC were treated with surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, with or without cisplatin. Despite this aggressive approach, recurrence rates remained high in patients with adverse pathological features. Immune checkpoint inhibitors revolutionized metastatic and recurrent HNSCC management, yet failed to show benefit in definitive…
