Head and neck tumours: immunotherapy in recurrent disease: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Head and neck tumours: immunotherapy in recurrent disease

Sample item

A patient with recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous carcinoma and a PD-L1 combined positive score of 20 is considered for first-line systemic therapy. Which agent is an option?

APembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitorBImatinibCTamoxifenDInterferon alpha

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor

Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, is approved as monotherapy or with platinum and fluorouracil for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous carcinoma, particularly with PD-L1 expression. Immune-related adverse effects include thyroiditis and colitis. Tamoxifen and imatinib are not used.

Option by option

A. Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor (correct)
Correct. PD-1 blockade improves survival in this setting.
B. Imatinib
Imatinib is for GIST and CML.
C. Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is for hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
D. Interferon alpha
Interferon is not standard therapy.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor. Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, is approved as monotherapy or with platinum and fluorouracil for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous carcinoma, particularly with PD-L1 expression.

Why is "Imatinib" not the answer?

Imatinib is for GIST and CML.

Why is "Tamoxifen" not the answer?

Tamoxifen is for hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

Why is "Interferon alpha" not the answer?

Interferon is not standard therapy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck tumours: immunotherapy in recurrent disease in ENT. Immune-related adverse effects include thyroiditis and colitis. Tamoxifen and imatinib are not used.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Head and neck tumours: immunotherapy in recurrent disease?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.