New Hope for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Patients with head and neck cancer who can't take the standard chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, due to kidney or hearing issues, now have new potential treatment options on the horizon.

Cisplatin can damage kidneys and hearing, making it unsuitable for some patients. Alternatives have been hard to find. Christina E. Henson, M.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, is a co-author of a recent publication in the journal Lancet that tested durvalumab (an immunotherapy drug) with radiation as an alternative. Unfortunately, it didn't perform better than the existing drug, cetuximab, and patients fared worse.

Dr. Henson and team are now exploring a new approach using hafnium, a harmless metal that enhances radiation's effectiveness without damaging healthy tissues. This innovative method is being tested in a global clinical trial (NANORAY-312) involving 160 sites. This research aims to provide safer and more effective treatment options for patients who can't use cisplatin, offering hope for better outcomes and fewer side effects.

This work highlights the importance of the joint clinical, research, and educational missions of OU Health and the University of Oklahoma.

Discover more insights from the University of Oklahoma on how the effectiveness of a heavy metal enhances radiation’s ability to kill cancer cells.

Lancet Article Details Drug’s Lack of Benefit for Head and Neck Cancer