Adding Opdivo to Standard Chemotherapy Post-Surgery Improves Outcomes in High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer

After three years, 63.1% of patients who received nivolumab with standard treatment were alive without their cancer returning, compared to 52.5% of those who received standard treatment alone.

Charles H. Weaver, MD
1–2 minutes
Home » Head Neck Cancer » Adding Opdivo to Standard Chemotherapy Post-Surgery Improves Outcomes in High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer

Results from a recent study presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting demonstrate that adding the immunotherapy drug nivolumab (Opdivo) to standard chemotherapy and radiation after surgery can help prevent head and neck cancer from coming back in patients at high risk of relapse.

What Was Studied?

The NIVOPOSTOP phase 3 trial included 680 patients with locally advanced, high-risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who had already undergone surgery to remove their cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either:

  • Standard treatment (cisplatin chemotherapy plus radiotherapy), or
  • Standard treatment plus nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug.

Key Results

  • After three years, 63.1% of patients who received nivolumab with standard treatment were alive without their cancer returning, compared to 52.5% of those who received standard treatment alone.
  • This means adding nivolumab reduced the risk of cancer coming back or death by 24%.
  • The benefit was seen regardless of tumor characteristics, including PD-L1 status.
  • Side effects were similar between the two groups and were manageable.

Why Is This Important?

This is the first time in over 20 years that a new treatment has improved outcomes over the standard approach for these high-risk patients. Experts say nivolumab combined with chemotherapy and radiation could become a new standard of care for people with high-risk head and neck cancer after surgery.

What Should Patients Know?

If you or a loved one has had surgery for high-risk, locally advanced head and neck cancer, ask your doctor about the latest treatment options, including whether adding immunotherapy like nivolumab might be appropriate for you.

More Reading

Overview of Head & Neck Cancer

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Reference

Bourhis J, Auperin A, Borel C, et al. NIVOPOSTOP (GORTEC 2018-01): a phase III randomized trial of adjuvant nivolumab added to radio-chemotherapy in patients with resected head and neck squamous cell carcinoma at high risk of. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA2. 

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