Can radiation wake up the immune system against resistant head and neck cancer?
NCT ID NCT03085719
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.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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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.
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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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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Locations
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States