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.
