Experimental combo for head and neck cancer shows promise, but trial halted early
NCT ID NCT05814666
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tested whether adding danvatirsen to the standard immunotherapy pembrolizumab helps people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. About 69 adults with PD-L1 positive tumors were randomly assigned to receive the combination or pembrolizumab alone. The study was terminated early, so its findings are limited.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
danvatirsen and pembrolizumab
What this could lead to
If it works, this combination could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread.
What could go wrong
The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. It is a small Phase 2 study, and the combination may not prove more effective or safe than pembrolizumab alone.
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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AMR Kansas City Oncology
Merriam, Kansas, 66204, United States
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Barts Health MHS Trust (Barts and The London NHS Trust) - St Bartholomew's (Barts) Hospital
London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
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Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89169, United States
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Dong-A University Hospital
Busan, 49201, South Korea
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East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Lister Hospital
Northwood, HA6 2RN, United Kingdom
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Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
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Gyeongsang National University Hospital
Jinju, 52727, South Korea
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Korea University Medical Center (KUMC)
Seoul, 02841, South Korea
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Kosin University College of Medicine - Kosin University Gospel Hospital (KUGH)
Busan, 602-702, South Korea
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Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809, United States
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Miami Cancer Institute
Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
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Morristown Medical Center
Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, United States
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Mount Sinai
New York, New York, 10029, United States
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Prisma Health Cancer Institute
Greenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States
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Saint James's University Hospital (SJUH) - St James's Institute of Oncology
Leeds, United Kingdom
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Stony Brook Cancer Center
Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States
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TMPN Hunt Cancer Care
Torrance, California, 90505, United States
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The Catholic University of Korea - Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, South Korea
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The Christ Hospital Cancer Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
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The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Sutton, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
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The University of Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
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UT Southwestern Medical Center/Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
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University Hospitals Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
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University of California Irvine (UCI)
Irvine, California, 92617, United States
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University of California Los Angeles
Westwood, Los Angeles, California, 90024, United States
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University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
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University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) Anschutz Cancer Pavilion
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
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University of Illinois Cancer Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States
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University of Maryland Baltimore, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States