New hope for frail seniors with head and neck cancer: easier treatment regimen tested

NCT ID NCT06998069

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Brown University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests a milder combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation for adults aged 65 and older with head and neck cancer who are considered frail. The goal is to see if more patients can complete the full treatment course. The regimen is tailored based on a biomarker (PD-L1 CPS) and aims to control the disease while being easier to tolerate.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Pembrolizumab, Cetuximab, and Radiation Therapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a gentler, effective treatment option for older adults with head and neck cancer who are too frail for standard therapy.
What could go wrong: This is a very small early-phase trial (20 participants) testing a reduced-intensity regimen. It may not work as well as standard treatment, and side effects from chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation are still possible.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck neoplasm Head and Neck Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEAD AND NECK NEOPLASMS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Rhode Island and The Miriam Hospitals
RECRUITING

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903/02906, United States

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