Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex cancer requiring a multidisciplinary approach. For patients with locally or regionally advanced disease, surgery and/or radiation are the cornerstones of definitive treatment. Medical therapy plays an important adjunct role in this setting, typically consisting of a platinum-based regimen given as induction, concurrent, or adjuvant treatment. While relapsed/metastatic HNSCC has historically been a difficult-to-treat disease with poor outcomes, options have considerably improved with the incorporation of biologics and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Clinical trials are ongoing to investigate novel approaches, including new and combination immunotherapies, targeted therapies, therapeutic vaccines, antibody–drug conjugates, and cellular therapies. The results thus far have been mixed, highlighting the knowledge gaps that continue to challenge the medical oncologist treating HNSCC. Here, we present the most updated and broad review of the current treatment landscape in both locoregional and metastatic HNSCC and discuss the expansive future medical therapies under investigation.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with particularly poor outcomes in the elderly population, in whom the disease is most prevalent. BCL-2 has been identified as an antiapoptotic protein and promotes survival of leukemia stem cells. Recently, the United States FDA has approved venetoclax, a selective oral BCL-2 inhibitor, for use in conjunction with hypomethylating agents (azacitidine or decitabine) or low-dose cytarabine as a first-line treatment option for those AML patients ineligible for standard induction chemotherapy. However, there are nuances and challenges when using this regimen in the extremely elderly AML patients. Given the widespread adoption of this regimen and increasing prevalence of patients who are well into their 80 s, it is important to evaluate and understand how to safely use this regimen in this so-called "extremely elderly " population. We present here 3 case studies involving AML patients > 85 years of age who were treated with venetoclax plus HMA and provide clinical knowledge on how this population should be appropriately managed.