Ultra-low dose nivolumab shows survival benefit for head and neck cancer patients in India

Researchers presented data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting showing that an ultra‑low dose of the PD‑1 inhibitor nivolumab, given with chemotherapy, extended survival for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in India.

The study, led by Minit Jalan Shah at Tata Memorial Centre, enrolled 422 adults in a phase 3 trial conducted in India, where the disease is the second most common cancer but less than 3% of eligible patients receive checkpoint inhibitors because of cost.

By reducing the dose of nivolumab, the cost of treatment could be dramatically lowered, potentially making this high‑tech immunotherapy accessible in resource‑limited settings.

The findings suggest that dose optimization may be a viable strategy to broaden access to life‑saving cancer therapies in poorer countries.