Immunotherapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment modality for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially in advanced and recurrent cases where conventional therapies offer limited survival benefits. By harnessing the body's immune system, immunotherapeutic approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors-particularly anti-PD-1 agents like nivolumab and pembrolizumab-have shown improved overall survival and quality of life in select OSCC patients, as demonstrated in landmark trials like KEYNOTE-048 and CheckMate 141. Other strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, cytokine therapy, and oncolytic viruses, are under investigation but have yet to achieve widespread clinical use. Despite these advances, challenges such as low response rates, immune-related adverse events, tumor heterogeneity, and resistance mechanisms limit the efficacy of immunotherapy. Biomarkers like PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and immune gene signatures are being explored to guide patient selection and predict response. Combination therapies with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other immunomodulators are being developed to enhance outcomes.