[The Concept of Platinum-Resistance and Treatment Strategies in Head and Neck Cancer].

In the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN), platinum-based drugs have become a mainstay of drug therapy. Platinum-based chemotherapy has been established as standard primary treatment for recurrent or metastatic SCCHN(R/M SCCHN). However, platinum-based chemotherapy, which poses a great burden on patients, is desired to be used only in patients in whom beneficial effects are expected, but no clear treatment guidelines have been established. On the other hand, the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a new class of cancer therapeutics, in SCCHN patients has been confirmed, in addition to anti-human EGFR monoclonal antibody products. Therefore, there is now a demand for shifting the conventional platinum-dependent treatment to treatment with optimal drugs selected for individual patients. Under these situations, in this article, I propose a clear definition of platinum-resistance in R/M SCCHN patients, and also provide a brief outline of the clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors used as a new treatment option for platinum-resistant patients, based on the latest findings.