New cocktail aims to shrink head and neck tumors before surgery

NCT ID NCT07601737

First seen Jun 03, 2026 · Last updated Jun 20, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This phase II trial tests whether adding nimotuzumab and immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy before surgery can improve outcomes for people with locally advanced head and neck cancer. About 182 participants will receive either the combination or standard treatment. The main goal is to see if the combo improves the chance of staying cancer-free for two years.

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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.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

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

Locations

  • Shanghai First People's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Shanghai, China

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

What this could mean

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

Active substance

nimotuzumab, tislelizumab (or pembrolizumab), albumin-bound paclitaxel (or docetaxel), cisplatin (or carboplatin)

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could improve event-free survival and tumor response before surgery for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

What could go wrong

This is a phase II trial with a moderate sample size, so results may not confirm benefit. Combination therapies also carry higher risk of side effects like immune-related reactions and toxicity.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck cancer 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.