Immunotherapy before surgery shows promise for head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT03565783
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase II trial is testing whether giving the immunotherapy drug cemiplimab before surgery can help shrink tumors in people with stage II to IV head and neck skin cancer that can be removed. The study enrolled 44 participants and aims to see how many respond to the drug. If it works, this approach might reduce the risk of the cancer coming back after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cemiplimab (a drug that helps the immune system attack cancer cells)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that giving immunotherapy before surgery helps shrink tumors and lowers the chance of cancer coming back in people with head and neck skin cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (44 people) with no control group, so results may not apply broadly. The drug can cause immune-related side effects, and not all patients may respond.
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
-
M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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