Could a cancer pill before surgery help head and neck patients?
NCT ID NCT00954226
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tested two doses of the drug erlotinib (Tarceva) given before surgery in 48 people with head and neck cancer. The goal was to see how the drug affects a protein called phospho-Akt in tumor samples. Researchers hope erlotinib might slow tumor growth by blocking certain enzymes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- erlotinib hydrochloride (Tarceva)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a way to shrink tumors before surgery, potentially improving outcomes for head and neck cancer patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 48 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug may not show meaningful benefit or could cause 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
-
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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