Skip to main content
AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.

Panel Presentations

Head and Neck Surgery

Cancer Immunotherapy 101

Saturday, October 11, 2025
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
Location: 126
Disclosure(s):
Larissa Sweeny, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Karen Y. Choi, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Adam J. Luginbuhl, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a heterogeneous disease without significant improvements in overall survival. Cancer immunotherapy has shown promise as a new therapeutic pathway for the treatment of various malignancies, including head and neck mucosal and skin cancers. Targeted therapies, such as those for immune checkpoints, have been the agents with the greatest therapeutic potential. There have been several recent clinical trials with exciting results in treating patients with immunotherapy in the setting of cutaneous malignancies. With the growing indications for immunotherapy and the potential for immunotherapy to have a big impact on a patient's treatment response and prognosis, patients and their families will be inquiring about these agents with greater frequency. Having a fundamental understanding of cancer immunotherapy, its current indications and future possibilities, can be useful for counseling patients. This panel, geared toward general otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeons and trainees, will provide an overview of basic immunotherapy principals, followed by more in-depth review of the available immunotherapy agents for the treatment of cutaneous malignancies of the head and neck, including common side effects and management. In addition, the panel will highlight recently completed and ongoing clinical trials to provide the audience with the most up-to-date information. The panelist will provide the audience and participants with up-to-date and practice enhancing data in a practical and interactive forum that will foster discussion and education, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for our patients. To foster audience engagement, the panel will utilize a combination of high impact slides and case presentations to provide attendees with updates on novel therapeutics and recent advances in treatments.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Upon completion of this activity, the participants should be able to understand the basic principles of cancer immunotherapy.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Upon completion, the participants should be able to describe immunotherapies currently being used for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Upon completion, the participants should be able to describe immunotherapies currently being used for the treatment of melanoma and basal cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: In the United States, the incidence of skin cancer surpasses all other cancers combined. This panel offers cutting edge updates on the rapidly evolving role of immunotherapy in the treatment of skin cancers including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and high risks basal cell carcinomas.

Comprehensive Otolaryngology Track Statement :

    Moderator(s)

  • LS

    Larissa Sweeny, MD

    Associate Professor, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
    University of Miami Health System
    Miami, FL, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc

    David Myers MD Professor & Chair
    Temple University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Karen Y. Choi, MD

    Associate Professor
    MD Anderson Cancer Center
    Houston, TX, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • AL

    Adam J. Luginbuhl, MD

    Professor
    Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
    Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.