Can a common cholesterol drug boost immunotherapy against head and neck cancer?

NCT ID NCT06636734

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase II trial tests whether adding lovastatin, a common cholesterol-lowering drug, to the immunotherapy pembrolizumab can help shrink tumors in people with head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. The study will enroll 28 adults whose tumors express PD-L1. Researchers will measure how many patients respond and how long the benefit lasts.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

lovastatin and pembrolizumab

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a more effective treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer by combining a common cholesterol drug with immunotherapy.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 28 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination may not work better than pembrolizumab alone, and side effects are possible.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for METASTATIC HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

carcinoma head and neck squamous cell carcinoma human papillomavirus-related squamous cell carcinoma hypopharynx cancer hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma laryngeal carcinoma laryngeal neoplasm laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma lip and oral cavity carcinoma lip and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma metastatic squamous cell carcinoma Mouth Neoplasms nasopharyngeal carcinoma nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma oropharyngeal carcinoma oropharynx cancer oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma paranasal sinus 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.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Emory University Hospital Midtown

    RECRUITING

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

    RECRUITING

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact