OBJECTIVES: Cancers of the head and neck (HN) are a diverse group of cancers originating in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal chambers, and salivary glands. As treatments for HN cancers have evolved, the use of biomarker testing to appropriately identify the best treatment has become more important. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the rates of testing among HN patients on two key biomarker tests PD-L1 and HPV status in the US and 5 European (EU5) countries.

METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review of patients with HN in the US (n=606) and EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK; n=1,000) was conducted between 7/2016 and 6/2017. Physicians randomly selected patient charts currently on an anti-cancer regimen and extracted data on patient demographics, disease status, treatment patterns, and biomarker status.

RESULTS: Of the 1,606 HN patients included in this analysis, the US and EU5 had different gender distributions (percent male US: 68%, EU: 81%, p=<0.01), but similar average ages (mean (SD) US: 62.86 (8.25), EU: 63.32 (8.81) between groups (p=0.29). When identifying PD-L1 status between the countries, significantly more patients in the EU5 had never been tested (76%, US: 61%, p=<0.01). Of those who were tested in the US (n=238) and EU5 (n=244), 63% of patients in the US were positive compared to only 35% in the EU5 (p=<0.01). HPV results showed no differences in the testing rate (US: 89%, EU5: 91%, p=0.54), but of those tested (US: 535, EU5: 908) significantly more HN patients tested HPV positive in the US (26%) than in the EU5 (16%, p=<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: As new advanced therapies become available the importance of biomarker testing among HN cancer patients will continue to grow. Understanding the differences in how tests are used as well as patient test results by region is vital in the development and testing process.