Sacco AG, Chen R, Worden FP, et al. - Researchers undertook this open-label, non-randomised, multi-arm, phase 2 trial in the USA, to assess the anti-tumour activity of PD-1 blockade with EGFR inhibition in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Eligibility criteria were applied and patients were administered pembrolizumab 200 mg (PD-1 inhibitor) intravenously every 3 weeks, combined with an initial loading dose of cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor) 400 mg/m ² intravenously followed by 250 mg/m ² intravenously weekly (21 day cycle). The estimated overall response rate, by 6 months, was 45%, with 15 of 33 patients exhibiting a partial response. Oral mucositis occurred as the most common grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse event. There were no treatment-related deaths. Overall, findings demonstrated promising clinical activity of pembrolizumab combined with cetuximab for recurrent or metastatic HNSCC.