Last Resort? Rationale for Comprehensive Molecular Analysis in Treatment-Refractory R/M HNSCC: A Case Report of Remarkable Response to Sacituzumab Govitecan Following Molecular and Functional Characterization

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Henrike Barbara Zech - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Philippe Schafhausen - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Leonie Ramke - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Janna Lisa Velthaus - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Simon Kreutzfeldt - , Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) (Autor:in)
  • Daniel Hübschmann - , Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH) (Autor:in)
  • Kai Rothkamm - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Carsten Bokemeyer - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Anna Sophie Hoffmann - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Stefan Fröhling - , Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Universität Heidelberg (Autor:in)
  • Hanno Glimm - , Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Dresden, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) - Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Christian Stephan Betz - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Malte Kriegs - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)
  • Maximilian Christopeit - , Universität Hamburg (Autor:in)

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), the overall prognosis is poor, and systemic treatment options remain limited. While precision therapy approaches have revolutionized treatment strategies in several tumor types, molecularly informed therapies in R/M HNSCC are rare, primarily due to the low number of actionable genetic alterations identified through next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels. There is an urgent need to establish precision therapy approaches in R/M HNSCC using innovative predictive testing. Methods: We report the case of a 43-year-old patient with recurrent oral cancer who was extensively pretreated and comprehensively characterized using both descriptive and functional testing. Results: NGS revealed no targetable alterations. A tumor tissue slice radiosensitivity assay suggested radioresistance, arguing against re-irradiation. Kinome profiling identified upregulated Src-family kinases (SFK), and SFK inhibition reduced kinase activity in vitro. Most notably, mRNA analysis demonstrated high Trop-2 overexpression, confirmed by immunohistochemistry (3+ in 100% of tumor cells). Following six cycles of the Trop-2-directed antibody–drug conjugate Sacituzumab govitecan (SG), the patient had an impressive clinical response. Conclusions: Tumor characterization beyond genetic profiling can identify novel treatment options in therapy-refractory HNSCC. This is the first report of “real-world” data on promising antitumor efficacy of SG in a heavily pretreated oral cancer patient with Trop-2 overexpression. Consistent with the findings of the Basket TROPiCS-03 study, SG appears to be a promising novel therapy option for R/M HNSCC after failure of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, particularly in patients with Trop-2 overexpression.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer1266
FachzeitschriftBiomedicines
Jahrgang13
Ausgabenummer5
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Mai 2025
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

ORCID /0009-0003-2782-8190/work/198593813

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Schlagwörter

  • kinome, precision medicine, recurrent HNSCC, Sacituzumab govitecan, Trop-2, tumor models, tumor tissue slices