Immunotherapy, especially checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD1 and anti-PDL1 antibodies, has changed the standard of care and the prognosis of melanoma, but also more recently of lung cancer, renal cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. Results of preliminary studies in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as well as in less frequent tumors of the region, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and high grade salivary gland carcinoma, are also promising. Indeed, in a recent phase 3 study, the PD1 inhibitor nivolumab has recently demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival for platin-resistant recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC.