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Understanding Keynote-689: Immunotherapy for Head & Neck Cancer

with Dr. Dylan Roden, Dr. Ravi Uppaluri and Dr. Adam Luginbuhl

While the standard for adjuvant head and neck cancer treatment hasn't changed since 2004, a new trial using perioperative pembrolizumab is forcing clinicians to rethink their entire workflow, starting with diagnosis. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, head and neck surgical oncologist Dr. Adam Luginbuhl is joined by colleagues Dr. Dylan Roden and Dr. Ravindra Uppaluri to discuss the implementation and implications of the Keynote-689 trial, which introduced neoadjuvant and adjuvant immunotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

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Understanding Keynote-689: Immunotherapy for Head & Neck Cancer with Dr. Dylan Roden, Dr. Ravi Uppaluri and Dr. Adam Luginbuhl on the BackTable Tumor Board Podcast

Ep 32 Understanding Keynote-689: Immunotherapy for Head & Neck Cancer with Dr. Dylan Roden, Dr. Ravi Uppaluri and Dr. Adam Luginbuhl

00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2025, October 28). Ep. 32 – Understanding Keynote-689: Immunotherapy for Head & Neck Cancer [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Adam Luginbuhl

Dr. Adam Luginbuhl is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Dylan Roden

Dr. Dylan Roden is a head and neck cancer surgeon and Chair of Robotic Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Dr. Ravindra Uppaluri

Dr. Ravindra Uppaluri is the Director of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Synopsis

The doctors discuss the trial details, FDA approval, and practical challenges of integrating this new paradigm into clinical practice. The conversation covers critical points such as the necessity of CPS score testing, timely drug administration, patient monitoring, and the importance of collaboration among multidisciplinary teams.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
02:18 - Keynote-689 Trial Explained
04:42 - Implementation Challenges and Strategies
06:40 - Practical Considerations for CPS Testing
13:59 - Case Studies and Real-World Applications
30:48 - Future Directions and Final Thoughts

Resources

Keynote-689
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2415434

2004 Cisplatin Phase III Trial
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa032646

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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