Dr. David Neskey, a head and neck tumor surgeon, performed a checkpoint therapy neoadjuvant clinical trial in oral cavity cancer patients. The trial found that ~30% of patients respond to therapy prior to surgery, demonstrating that checkpoint therapy is a strategy to improve outcomes in oral cavity cancer patients. In collaboration with Dr. Neskey, data from the trial are used in our research group to study why certain patients respond to clinical immunotherapies and some do not.