Can a Three-Pronged attack shrink Hard-to-Treat head and neck cancers?
NCT ID NCT04576091
First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase I trial is testing whether a combination of three treatments — an experimental drug called elimusertib, precise radiation therapy, and the immunotherapy pembrolizumab — can shrink or stabilize recurrent head and neck cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The study enrolls adults with various types of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that have returned after prior treatment. The main goals are to find the safest dose and to watch for side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a combination of elimusertib (BAY 1895344), stereotactic body radiation therapy, and pembrolizumab
- What this could lead to
- If this works, it could offer a new treatment option for people with recurrent head and neck cancer that cannot be surgically removed.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase I trial with only 7 participants, so the benefits are uncertain. The combination may cause significant side effects, and it is not yet known if it works better than existing treatments.
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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Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
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Los Angeles General Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
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Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Campus
The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States
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Montefiore Medical Center-Einstein Campus
The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States
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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
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Vanderbilt University/Ingram Cancer Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A gentler path after surgery for HPV throat cancer?
- Can immunotherapy boost surgery outcomes in recurrent head and neck cancer?
- Blood test may tailor throat cancer treatment, sparing patients from harsh side effects
- Aiming to spare the neck: could smarter radiation cut side effects in oral cancer?
- Sharper radiation boost aims to tackle head and neck cancers that return
- New combo attack: immunotherapy plus chemo before surgery for head and neck cancer