Head and Neck Oncology Journal Club

Krishnakumar Thankappan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Medicine

A weekly podcast breaking down the latest peer-reviewed research in head and neck surgery and oncology. Perfect for busy clinicians.

  1. The METRO PLUS Trial: Metronomic Chemotherapy Added to Paclitaxel-Carboplatin in Advanced HNSCC

    1d ago

    The METRO PLUS Trial: Metronomic Chemotherapy Added to Paclitaxel-Carboplatin in Advanced HNSCC

    Can a $180-a-year regimen close the access gap in advanced head and neck cancer? In this episode we cover METRO PLUS (Kapoor et al., JCO Global Oncology 2026), a single-center, open-label, phase III trial from Varanasi testing whether adding triple oral metronomic chemotherapy — erlotinib, celecoxib, and weekly methotrexate — to paclitaxel-carboplatin improves survival in platinum-sensitive, unresectable advanced HNSCC. 238 patients, randomized 1:1, in a young, oral-cavity-predominant cohort. The combination doubled median overall survival (10 v 5 months; HR 0.54) and progression-free survival (6 v 2 months; HR 0.38), lifted the 6-month OS rate to 68.6% versus 36.5%, and did all of this without increasing grade 3-5 toxicity. Quality of life favored the combination across multiple domains. Paper: https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-25-00721

    7 min
  2. Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Excision: Sistrunk Procedure

    Jun 28

    Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Excision: Sistrunk Procedure

    Audio companion to our surgical video on the Sistrunk procedure for thyroglossal duct cyst. Embryology, why simple excision recurs, and a concise step-by-step of the operation — incision, subplatysmal flaps, strap separation, central hyoid skeletonisation and resection, en bloc specimen delivery, and layered closure. Watch the dissection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cki1r1fIAw8

    4 min
  3. Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy vs Immunotherapy Alone in HNSCC

    Jun 28

    Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy vs Immunotherapy Alone in HNSCC

    A 23-study, 751-patient meta-analysis asks a practical question: when you give neoadjuvant immunotherapy before surgery in resectable head and neck cancer, does adding chemotherapy actually help? Baratz and colleagues (Mayo Clinic, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, March 2026) pooled the prospective phase 1 and 2 data across three regimens — chemoimmunotherapy, single-agent immunotherapy, and dual-agent immunotherapy — in mostly HPV-negative, locally advanced disease. What we cover: The headline response gap: major-plus-complete pathologic response of 66% with chemoimmunotherapy vs 18% dual-agent vs 6% single-agentComplete pathologic response (~38% vs 5% vs 3%) and why radiographic complete responses appeared only in the chemoimmunotherapy armThe counterintuitive safety finding — more grade 3–5 events with single-agent immunotherapy (29%) than chemoimmunotherapy (17%) — and why the authors won't draw conclusions from itThe crucial caveat: these are pooled single-arm trials, not a randomized head-to-headWho the likely target population is for a future phase 3 trial: HPV-negative, T3/T4 oral cavity diseaseBottom line: A large, consistent signal that neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy outperforms immunotherapy alone on pathologic response — strong enough to justify a phase 3 comparison, not strong enough to settle it. Source paper Baratz HQ, Hidalgo C, Price DL, et al. Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy and Chemoimmunotherapy Regimens in Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online March 12, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2026.0080 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2026.0080 More episodes: hnoncology-journalclub.netlify.app

    7 min
  4. ALT Flap Harvest

    Jun 21

    ALT Flap Harvest

    Head and Neck Oncology Journal Club

    8 min
  5. When Not to Operate: Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Skull Base

    Jun 7

    When Not to Operate: Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Skull Base

    Head and Neck Oncology Journal Club

    9 min
  6. Systemic Treatment of Thyroid Cancer: The 2026 ASCO Guideline

    May 17

    Systemic Treatment of Thyroid Cancer: The 2026 ASCO Guideline

    Head and Neck Oncology Journal Club

    7 min
  7. ENE Upstages: What TNM9 Changes for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer

    Apr 10

    ENE Upstages: What TNM9 Changes for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer

    Head and Neck Oncology Journal Club

    7 min
  8. Remote-Access Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy: 2025 International Consensus Statement

    Mar 29

    Remote-Access Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy: 2025 International Consensus Statement

    Head and Neck Oncology Journal Club

    7 min
See All (21)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A weekly podcast breaking down the latest peer-reviewed research in head and neck surgery and oncology. Perfect for busy clinicians.

Information

  • Creator
    Krishnakumar Thankappan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Krishnakumar Thankappan