EGFR-targeted photoimmunotherapy for head and neck cancer: real-world data from multi-center observational study in Japan

Photoimmunotherapy is a novel cancer treatment using a combination of IR700 photosensitizer-conjugated monoclonal antibody and 690nm red light illumination to induce selective target cell death. In the phase I/IIa clinical trial for locoregional/recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, photoimmunotherapy using cetuximab sarotalocan sodium, RM-1929, showed a clinically meaningful local tumor response and a manageable safety profile, establishing its utility as a new treatment option for head and neck cancer patients with limited alternatives. Photoimmunotherapy using RM-1929 was approved in Japan in 2020 for unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer and has been covered by the health insurance system since 2021. Photoimmunotherapy represents one of the treatment options for patients with unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer.