Immune check-point inhibitors and standard chemoradiotherapy in definitive head and neck cancer treatment

In head and neck cancer management, there is a need for tailored approaches to optimally implement clinical outcomes. Based on the assumption that efficacy and long-term toxicity are not satisfactory for standard concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy, several trials have been designed to test whether induction immunotherapy and/or concomitant immunotherapy and radiotherapy result in improved survival and toxicity outcomes. Here, we present an overview of the most recent concomitant therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancer, focusing on the knowledge available regarding check-point inhibitors. The aim is to present the characteristics of the main check-point inhibitors and to summarize the clinical trials on the combination of immune check-point inhibitors and (chemo)radiotherapy in the definitive HNC setting, in order to provide a useful clinical tool for further research.