OBJECTIVES : Real-world use of IO therapy in HNSCC has not been well studied. This study described the treatment patterns before and after initiation of IO therapies using real-world data.

METHODS : Adult (age ≥18) patients who initiated IO therapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) during 2/1/2016-4/30/2017 were identified from the IQVIA Real-World Data Adjudicated Claims – US^TM database; the first IO claim was the index date. Patients had continuous enrollment for ≥12 months before index date (pre-index) and ≥30 days after index date (post-index) and ≥2 HNSCC diagnoses (one before index and a confirmatory diagnosis ≥30 days after the first diagnosis). Treatment patterns before and after IO initiation were described.

RESULTS : CONCLUSIONS : IO monotherapy was commonly started as second- or third-line treatment for HNSCC in real practice. The majority of patients received single or combination chemotherapy before IO therapy.