Immunotherapy combo shows promise in reducing head and neck cancer recurrence

NCT ID NCT02296684

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 06, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This phase 2 trial tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to standard surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy could help prevent head and neck cancer from coming back. The study enrolled 67 adults with advanced, surgically removable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Participants received pembrolizumab before and after surgery, alongside standard treatments. The main goals were to see how many patients had their cancer return within a year and to measure tumor response to the drug.

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)
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could lower the chance of head and neck cancer coming back after surgery and standard treatments.
What could go wrong: This was a small, early-phase trial (67 people) without a comparison group. Results may not apply to all patients, and immunotherapy can cause immune-related 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.

head and neck cancer 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.

CANCER OF HEAD AND NECK CARCINOMA, SQUAMOUS CELL OF HEAD AND NECK HEAD AND NECK CANCER NEOPLASMS, HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, HEAD AND NECK

Contacts and locations

Locations

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

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