Combined treatment of HPV-positive HNSCC cells with Xevinapant, Tuvusertib and ionizing radiation

Introduction Recently, a combination of the pro-apoptotic SMAC mimetic xevinapant and radiochemotherapy (RCT) was the first study arm ever to show superiority over RCT alone in HNSCC. The proportion of HPV-pos. patients in this randomized phase 2 trial was only 8% and there are very limited preclinical data on radiosensitization of HPV-pos. HNSCC. Since further clinical trials with xevinapant are currently being initiated that also include HPV-pos. HNSCC we are performing thorough preclinical analyses on the radiosensitization of HPV-pos. HNSCC cells through xevinapant alone, as well as the combination with another promising substance, the ATR-inhibitor tuvusertib.