New drug combo aims to boost radiation for head and neck cancer

NCT ID NCT01783587

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Mar 25, 2026 · Last updated Apr 29, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-phase study tested the safety of adding the drug afatinib to standard radiation therapy for people with head and neck cancer at risk of recurrence. Afatinib blocks proteins that help cancer grow and may make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. The study included 29 participants who had surgery and then received either afatinib with radiation (for intermediate risk) or afatinib with radiation and chemotherapy (for high risk). The main goal was to find the safest dose of afatinib in this combination.

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Contacts and locations

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Locations

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Mount Sinai Medical Center/Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York, New York, 10029, United States

Conditions

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SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK