Introduction
NPC
NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA, DISEASE
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has unique geographical, etiological and biological characteristics that set it apart from other head and neck tumorsThe combination of a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor with an anti-angiogenesis antibody has shown efficacy in many malignanciesIn this phase 2 trial presented here, we report the results of camrelizumab plus apatinib as a second-line or later-line treatment regimen in platinum-resistant (cohort 1) and PD-1 inhibitor-resistant (cohort 2) RM-NPC patients. Both cohort 1 and 2 meets primary end point. In exploratory molecular analyses, B cell marker and tertiary lymphoid structure shows a positive associated with higher ORR in cohort 1, while a higher expression of PD-L1, VEGF Receptor 2 (KDR) and angiogenesis gene expression signatures are related with the higher efficiency in cohort 2. Overall, our study highlights the promising efficacy of the camrelizumab plus apatinib regimen as a viable treatment option for patients with platinum-resistant and PD-1 inhibitor-resistant RM-NPC. Moreover, our molecular analyses offer insights into potential biomarkers and mechanisms that could be targeted for further optimization of treatment strategies in this challenging disease setting.