Immunotherapy drug could reduce need for surgery in advanced skin cancer
NCT ID NCT04323202
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tested the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab in 13 people with advanced basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Participants received the drug before and after surgery to see if it could shrink tumors and improve outcomes. The goal was to understand how the tumor responds and whether this approach might one day help some patients avoid surgery altogether.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system fight cancer)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could reduce the need for extensive surgery or improve outcomes for people with advanced basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 13 participants. The drug may not work as hoped, and there is a risk of serious side effects. Results 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
-
Cleveland Clinic, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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