Complete clinical remission of squamous cell carcinoma of the root of the tongue following treatment with envafolimab in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A case report

ABSTRACT

We present the case of a 69-year-old male patient with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the root of the tongue, who was enrolled in the clinical trial ‘prospective clinical study of envafolimab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and transformation therapy for head and neck SCC.’ After three cycles of envafolimab combined with chemotherapy, the tumor completely subsided, achieving complete remission as confirmed by re-examination through neck enhanced computed tomography and electronic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy. The patient was subsequently treated with envafolimab alone, achieving a progression-free survival of more than 20 months to date. During maintenance treatment, the patient developed adrenocortical dysfunction induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, which improved after symptomatic treatment and did not affect the patient’s quality of life. This article is the first to report the use of a new immune checkpoint inhibitor for SCC of the root of the tongue, achieving clinical cure.