Introduction
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, HNSCC, tumor, tumors
TUMOR, TUMORS, DNA DAMAGE
Despite multimodal treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, 40% to 60% of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) will eventually relapse (PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have been shown to be effective against homologous recombination repair deficient tumors (There is substantial evidence that tumor cells use PARP to repair platinum-induced DNA damage and thus escape apoptosis (DNA damage can also induce an innate immune response activating the STING (stimulator of interferon genes) pathway. Cytosolic DNA that results from DNA damage can activate STING leading to enhanced IFN production (Window of opportunity (WOO) studies aim to identify new relevant molecular therapeutic targets in HNSCC and facilitate translational research. In OPHELIA, a WOO phase II study, patients were randomized 3:3:1:3 to cisplatin (C) followed by olaparib (O), olaparib alone, no treatment, and durvalumab (D) followed by olaparib. Paired baseline and resection tumor biopsies were evaluated for prespecified biomarkers.