Experimental combo targets deadly thyroid cancer
NCT ID NCT05059470
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tested whether the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, given after radiation therapy, could help control anaplastic thyroid cancer that is still in the neck. Only 6 patients were enrolled before the study was stopped early. The goal was to see how long patients lived without the cancer growing or spreading.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pembrolizumab (a drug that helps the immune system fight cancer)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for anaplastic thyroid cancer that has not spread beyond the neck.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early-phase trial that was terminated early, so results are limited. The cancer is aggressive and may still progress despite treatment.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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