Immunotherapy combo shows promise in head and neck cancer trial
NCT ID NCT03480672
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to standard chemotherapy and radiation after surgery could help prevent cancer from returning in people with advanced head and neck cancer. The study enrolled 211 patients who had their tumors completely removed. The goal was to see if the combination improved the time patients lived without their cancer coming back. Results are not yet final, but the study aims to find a more effective treatment for this high-risk group.
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 cisplatin chemotherapy
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new standard treatment that lowers the chance of cancer returning after surgery for high-risk head and neck cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 2 trial with only 211 participants, so results are preliminary. Adding pembrolizumab may increase side effects without improving survival, and the benefit may not apply to all patients.
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
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie CVK
Berlin, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin, CVK und CCM, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde
Berlin, Germany
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Department of Head Medicine and Oral Health, University of Leipzig
Leipzig, 04103, Germany
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Ernst von Bergmann Klinikum Potsdam, Zentrum für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Strahlenheilkunde, Klinik für Hämatologie und
Potsdam, Germany
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Helios Klinikum Erfurt GmbH, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde
Erfurt, Germany
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Kath. Marienkrankenhaus gGmbH, Zentrum für Innere Medizin Hämatologie/Onkologie
Hamburg, Germany
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Klinikum Bielefeld, Onkologie/Hämatologie/ Palliativmedizin
Bielefeld, Germany
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Klinikum Stuttgart - Katharinenhospital, Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie
Stuttgart, Germany
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UNIVERSITÄTSKLINIKUM Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck
Lübeck, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Bonn; Med. Klinik III / ZIM, Hämatologie/Onkologie
Bonn, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radiologische Onkologie
Düsseldorf, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie
Essen, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Jena, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde
Jena, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Hals-Nasen-Ohren Klinik
Mannheim, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie
Regensburg, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Würzburg; Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie
Würzburg, Germany
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a One-Two punch of radiation and immunotherapy shrink head and neck tumors before surgery?
- Can a glowing drug light up head and neck tumors?
- Can a Two-Target antibody shrink Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- New drug combo aims to shrink oral cancers before surgery
- Modified herpes virus joins forces with immunotherapy to attack head and neck tumors
- New drug SKB571 takes on recurrent head and neck cancer