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

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Henrike Barbara Zech - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Philippe Schafhausen - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Leonie Ramke - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Janna Lisa Velthaus - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Simon Kreutzfeldt - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Daniel Hübschmann - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University , Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH) (Author)
  • Kai Rothkamm - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Carsten Bokemeyer - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Anna Sophie Hoffmann - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Stefan Fröhling - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Hanno Glimm - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Department of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT/University Cancer Center Dresden, a partnership between DFKZ, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany., German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Christian Stephan Betz - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Malte Kriegs - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Maximilian Christopeit - , University of Hamburg (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Article number1266
JournalBiomedicines
Volume13
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - May 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords

Keywords

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