New oral drug takes on standard chemo for head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT01856478
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tested whether the oral drug afatinib works better than the standard injected drug methotrexate for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has worsened after platinum chemotherapy. The study enrolled 340 patients and measured how long they lived without the cancer growing (progression-free survival) and whether tumors shrank. The goal was to see if afatinib could offer a more convenient and effective treatment option.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Afatinib (oral drug) and methotrexate (injected drug)
What this could lead to
If afatinib works better than methotrexate, it could offer a new, more convenient oral treatment option for advanced head and neck cancer that has stopped responding to platinum chemotherapy.
What could go wrong
This is a completed Phase 3 trial, so results are known. Afatinib may not be significantly better than methotrexate, and both drugs have side effects. The study only included certain types of head and neck cancer, so findings may not apply to all patients.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment & Research Institute
Bikaner, 334001, India
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Alexandria Clinical Research Center
Alexandria, 21131, Egypt
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Asan Medical Center
Seoul, 138-736, South Korea
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B. P .Poddar Hospital & Medical Research Ltd.
Kolkata, West Bengal, 700053, India
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Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital
Beijing, 100020, China
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Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Science
Beijing, 100021, China
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Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Shanghai, 200032, China
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Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital
Jaipur, 313002, India
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Government Medical College & Hospital
Nagpur, 440009, India
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Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital
Harbin, 150081, China
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J K Cancer Institute
Kanpur, 208005, India
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Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Lover's Lake Branch
Keelung, 204, Taiwan
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King George Medical University
Lucknow, 226003, India
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M N J Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre
Hyderabad, 500004, India
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Maharaj Nakom Chiangmai Hospital
Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
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Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine
Dakahlia, 35516, Egypt
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Naresuan University Hospital
Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
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National Cancer Center
Goyang, 10408, South Korea
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National Cancer Institute, Cairo University
Cairo, 11796, Egypt
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National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 100, Taiwan
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Navy General Hospital
Beijing, 100037, China
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Noble Hospital Pvt Ltd
Pune, 411013, India
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Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
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Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Beijing, 100730, China
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Perpetual Succour Hospital (Cebu)
Cebu City, 6000, Philippines
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Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong
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Pristine Hospital
Bengaluru, 560086, India
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Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
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Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital
Chennai, 600003, India
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Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong Univesrity School of Medicine
Shanghai, 200001, China
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Ruby Hall Clinic
Pune, 411001, India
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Samsung Medical Center
Seoul, 135-710, South Korea
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Severance Hospital
Seoul, 120-752, South Korea
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Shanghai Changzheng Hospital
Shanghai, 200003, China
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Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital
Shanghai, 200011, China
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Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital
Shanghai, 200125, China
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Shatabdi Hospital, Nashik
Nashik, 422002, India
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Sichuan Cancer Hospital
Chengdu, 610041, China
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Songklanagarind Hospital
Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
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Srinagarind Hospital
Muang, 40002, Thailand
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St. Luke's Medical Center
Quezon City, 1102, Philippines
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Sujan Surgical Cancer Hospital
Amravati, 444606, India
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Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center
Guangzhou, 510060, China
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Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Taichung, 407, Taiwan
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The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St.Mary's Hospital
Seoul, 137-701, South Korea
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The First Affiliated Hospital Of Bengbu Medical College
Bengbu, 233004, China
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The First Hospital of Jilin University
Changchun, 130021, China
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Tongji Hospital, Tongji University
Wuhan, 430030, China
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Tri-Service General Hospital
Taipei, 11490, Taiwan
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West China Hospital
Chengdu, 610042, China
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Wuhan Union Hospital
Wuhan, 430022, China
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Zhejiang Cancer Hospital
Hangzhou, 310022, China
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the 81th Hospital of PLA
Nanjing, 210002, China