Exploring Therapeutic Vaccine in Head and Neck Cancer

Joshua Bauml, M.D., assistant professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, discusses the potential of therapeutic vaccine in patients who have head and neck cancer.

Human papillomavirus-driven cancers have predictable epitopes, which are recognized by the immune system, that can be targeted. So, a recent study targeted the E6 and E7 epitopes and found that these patients did spark an immune response.

Looking forward, Bauml said that T-cell based therapies might have a place in this treatment arena, as well as combinations including immunotherapy agents.