Can radiation wake up the immune system against resistant head and neck cancer?

NCT ID NCT03085719

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether adding focused radiation to the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) can help people with head and neck cancer whose disease has worsened despite prior PD-1 therapy. The study enrolls 18 adults with metastatic or incurable head and neck cancer. The main goal is to see if the combination can stop the cancer from growing for at least 3 months.

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) plus radiation therapy
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to re-sensitize head and neck cancers that have stopped responding to immunotherapy.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 18 participants. The combination may not improve outcomes and could increase side effects from radiation.

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 Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.