Experimental triple therapy takes on head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT02567422
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial tests a new drug called berzosertib (M6620) alongside standard chemotherapy (cisplatin) and radiation in people with advanced head and neck cancer that has spread to nearby tissues. The main goals are to find the safest dose and to see what side effects occur. About 43 adults with stage III or IV disease are taking part. Because this is a Phase I study, it focuses on safety rather than whether the treatment actually works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Berzosertib (M6620, VX-970) combined with cisplatin and radiation therapy
- What this could lead to
- If this works, it could point toward a more effective treatment for advanced head and neck cancer by combining a targeted drug with standard chemo and radiation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early Phase I trial with only 43 people, focused on safety and dosing. It is too small to prove effectiveness, and the drug combination may cause serious side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
Locations
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Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
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City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Duarte, California, 91010, United States
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Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
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Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
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Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States
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Smilow Cancer Center/Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States
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Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center-Trumbull
Trumbull, Connecticut, 06611, United States
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UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
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University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sacramento, California, 95817, United States
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University of Iowa/Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
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University of Kentucky/Markey Cancer Center
Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States
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University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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University of Virginia Cancer Center
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, United States
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University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center - University Hospital
Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
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Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
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Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States
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