Advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer
IS KEYTRUDA RIGHT FOR YOU?
On this page:
Immunotherapy may be right for you.
It’s TRU. KEYTRUDA.
Understanding head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC)
“Head and neck cancer” is a term used to describe cancers in and around the head and neck, such as in the throat, lips, gums, or tongue. The specific type of head and neck cancer you have depends on what kinds of cells are affected and where the cancer actually started. For many, head and neck cancer begins in squamous cells found in the head and neck region. This type of cancer is called head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).
Talk to your doctor about your treatment options. If you have advanced HNSCC, your doctor may consider:
KEYTRUDA alone as your first treatment if your HNSCC has spread or returned and cannot be removed by surgery, and your tumor tests positive for PD-L1
KEYTRUDA with chemotherapy as your first treatment if your HNSCC has spread or returned and cannot be removed by surgery
KEYTRUDA alone if your HNSCC has spread or returned, and you have received chemotherapy that contains platinum and it did not work or is no longer working
Biomarker testing may help determine your treatment options
Learn what PD-L1 is and how testing for this biomarker could help determine how KEYTRUDA may fit into your treatment plan for HNSCC. Start a conversation with your doctor to see if KEYTRUDA is right for you.
PD-L1 = programmed death ligand 1.
A biomarker test checks whether a cancer contains a specific biomarker. One type of biomarker is called PD-L1.
PD-L1 is present on some normal (and cancer) cells. It can bind to another protein on cells in the immune system called PD-1. PD-1 acts as a type of “off switch” that helps keep immune cells from attacking other cells in the body. Here’s how it works:
- When PD-1 and PD-L1 attach, it sends a signal to leave the normal (and cancer) cells alone and not attack them.
- Some cancer cells have large amounts of PD-L1, which helps them hide from your immune system.
Testing for PD-L1 could help you and your doctor decide on a treatment plan. Immunotherapies like KEYTRUDA can treat certain cancers by targeting PD-L1 and PD-1.
See clinical trial resultsKEYTRUDA is an immunotherapy, which is a type of cancer treatment that uses your own immune system to help detect and fight cancer. Instead of attacking cancer cells directly, immunotherapy treatments help your body fight cancer.
KEYTRUDA works by:
- Blocking PD-1 from attaching to PD-L1, which helps prevent cancer cells from “hiding,” and
- Helping the immune system to find and fight cancer cells.
KEYTRUDA can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen any time during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
How KEYTRUDA worksTo determine if the cancer is using PD-L1 to “hide” from your immune system, talk to your doctor about biomarker testing for PD-L1. Ask your doctor:
- Has the tumor already been tested for PD-L1 or can it be tested now for PD-L1?
- How does the test result impact my treatment options?
KEYTRUDA is not chemotherapy or radiation therapy—it is an immunotherapy and it works with your immune system to help fight certain cancers
KEYTRUDA can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen any time during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
KEYTRUDA is a treatment approved by the FDA for certain people with HNSCC when your head and neck cancer has spread or returned and cannot be removed by surgery:
It may be used alone for people whose cancer tests positive for PD-L1 or used with platinum and fluorouracil chemotherapy medicines, as your first treatment
when you have received chemotherapy that contains platinum and it did not work or is no longer working.
Find out if KEYTRUDA is right for you
To determine your treatment options, your doctor may consider your medical history in addition to the traits of your individual cancer.
KEYTRUDA may be right for you even if you’ve had other types of cancer treatments, such as:
Surgery
Removes cancer cells.
Radiation therapy
Uses high-energy rays (like x-rays) to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
A treatment option that uses a drug to treat the cancer. It can be given in many ways, such as an intravenous (IV) line into the vein or as a pill that you swallow.
Targeted therapy
Uses medicines that target and disrupt certain parts of the cancer cell and the signals that are needed for cancer to grow and spread.
Patient support throughout your treatment
Patients who have been prescribed KEYTRUDA for an approved indication can access additional support from KEY+YOU, the patient support program for KEYTRUDA. KEY+YOU helps eligible patients by offering educational resources and support information throughout treatment.
Call 85-KEYTRUDA (855-398-7832)