Programme

Overview: Advancements in radiation therapy techniques, including IMRT, have allowed for more precise delivery of radiation, potentially reducing side effects. Dysphagia-optimized IMRT specifically focuses on minimizing radiation exposure to structures involved in swallowing, which may help reduce the risk of long-term swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) associated with treatment. After defining radiation associated dysphagia, techniques and outcomes from trials of dysphagia-optimized IMRT, both in the primary setting and the postop setting will be discussed.

Overview: Although there have been significant advancements in systemic therapy of recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), the prognosis for patients remains unfavorable. Antibody-drug conjugates have revolutionized treatment in multiple cancers, both alone and in combination with immunotherapy. Apoptosis-targeting agents have shown promising initial results in the locally advanced setting combined with chemoradiotherapy. Immunotherapy has been shown to extend survival in R/M HNSCC. As a result, novel immunotherapy strategies are presently undergoing clinical evaluation to increase cure rates for head and neck cancer. This session will explore the recent progress in systemic treatment for patients with head and neck cancer.