New combo attack on stubborn head and neck cancers enters early human testing
NCT ID NCT04754321
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to radiation therapy before and during surgery can help treat head and neck cancers that have persisted or come back. About 45 adults with resectable tumors will receive the combination. The main goal is to check for side effects, but researchers will also look at how well the cancer responds.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and radiation therapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a more effective treatment for head and neck cancers that persist or return after initial therapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early Phase 1 trial with only 45 people, focused on safety. It may not show strong anti-cancer effects, and side effects from combining immunotherapy with radiation and surgery could be significant.
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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITINGColumbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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