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“Smart Jab” Offers Hope for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients
A new injectable therapy, amivantamab, is demonstrating promising results in treating advanced head and neck cancer that has returned after previous treatment, according to research presented by Teh Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Researchers believe this ”smart” drug could become a valuable new option for patients with limited remaining treatment choices.
Amivantamab works by blocking two key cancer pathways and simultaneously boosting the body’s immune response. Unlike conventional cancer treatments requiring lengthy hospital stays, amivantamab is administered as an injection under the skin, offering a faster, more convenient, and potentially more accessible delivery method in outpatient clinics.
Professor Kevin Harrington, Professor of Biological Cancer Therapies at The ICR and Consultant Oncologist at The Royal Marsden, stated, “This is the first time we’ve tested this kind of triple-action therapy for head and neck cancer patients whose disease has returned after treatment. Amivantamab is a ‘smart’ drug that not only blocks two key cancer pathways but also helps the immune system do its job.” He added, “To see this level of benefit for patients who have endured numerous treatments is incredibly encouraging. This could represent a real shift in how we treat head and neck cancer – not just in terms of effectiveness,but also in how we deliver care.”
Professor Clare Isacke, dean of Academic and Research Affairs at The ICR, emphasized the urgent need for improved treatments. “these results are a powerful reminder of the urgent need for more effective and accessible treatments for people living with head and neck cancer. This is a disease that frequently enough returns aggressively and leaves patients with very few options. The promise shown by amivantamab – particularly its ability to deliver meaningful clinical benefit through an injection under the skin - represents a notable step forward.”
The therapy is currently being evaluated in the Orig-AMI 4 trial at The Royal Marsden. Carl Walsh, 59, from Birmingham, diagnosed with tongue cancer in May 2024, is participating in the trial. After unsuccessful chemotherapy and immunotherapy, he began receiving amivantamab in July 2024 and is now on his 7th cycle.
“Chemotherapy was my first treatment option, but unfortunately, it wasn’t prosperous. Then I tried immunotherapy, but that also didn’t work and also hoped. After that, they recommended I join the Orig-AMI 4 trial. I’m now on my 7th cycle of treatment, it’s working well so far and I’m very happy with the progress,” Walsh shared. He reported significant improvements in his ability to speak and eat, with reduced pain and swelling. “Sometimes I even forget that I have cancer,” he said. ”The only side effect I’ve experienced so far is minor skin issues, which is a big relief compared to the many side effects I had with chemotherapy.”
