IMPORTANCEApproximately 1 in 5 new patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in the US belong to racial and ethnic minority groups, but their survival rates are worse than White individuals. However, because most studies compare Black vs White patients, little is known about survival differences among members of racial and ethnic minority groups.OBJECTIVE To describe differential survival and identify nonclinical factors associated with stage of presentation among patients with HNC belonging to racial and ethnic minority groups.

IMPORTANCEPatients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are known to be at increased risk of suicide compared with the general population, but there has been insufficient research on whether this risk differs based on patients' rural, urban, or metropolitan residence status.OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the risk of suicide among patients with HNC differs by rural vs urban or metropolitan residence status.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a rare head and neck malignancy arises from the epithelial lining of nasopharyngeal mucosa. The confluence of various risk factors: latent Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection, genetic susceptibility, smoking, alcohol consumption and high nitrosamine) diet is thought to contribute to NPC pathogenesis. Radiation therapy serves as the mainstay of treatment for early-stage while concurrent chemotherapy and radiation are the basis of treatment for locoregional advanced disease with overall 80% 5-year survival rate. Recurrent or metastatic disease pose treatment challenges as re-irradiation, repeat cycles of chemotherapy and surgery follow with high likelihood of treatment toxicity or postoperative morbidities. Typically reserved for nonresectable recurrent or metastatic disease, immunotherapy serves as novel treatment for NPC. NPC tumor microenvironment predominated by a dense infiltrate of immune cells hosts an ideal target for immunotherapy. Several clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibodies such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and camrelizumab with promising results. Treatment of recurrent and metastatic NPC remains a challenge; however, the advent of immunotherapy has provided additional options and potential for preventative and therapeutic measures.