Two-Drug combo shows promise in keeping head and neck cancer at bay

NCT ID NCT05433116

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding lenvatinib to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) after standard chemoradiation can help prevent head and neck cancer from coming back. About 50 patients with advanced, PD-L1 positive cancer will receive either the combination or pembrolizumab alone as maintenance therapy. The main goal is to see if the combination improves the number of patients who remain cancer-free after two years.

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) and lenvatinib (Lenvima)

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could improve the chance of keeping head and neck cancer from returning after initial treatment.

What could go wrong

This is a mid-stage trial with only 50 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drugs can cause significant side effects, and the benefit over standard therapy is not yet proven.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Gemeinschaftspraxis Hämatologie-Onkologie

    Dresden, Saxony, 01307, Germany

  • Hospital Chemnitz, Radiation Oncology

    Chemnitz, Saxony, 09116, Germany

  • Saarland University Medical Center and Saarland University Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiooncology

    Homburg, Saarland, 66421, Germany

  • University Hospital Augsburg, Radiation Oncology

    Augsburg, Bavaria, 86156, Germany

  • University Hospital Düsseldorf, Radiation Oncology

    Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, 40225, Germany

  • University Hospital Erlangen, Radiation Oncology

    Erlangen, Bavaria, 91054, Germany

  • University Hospital Frankfurt/M, Center for Radiology

    Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, 60590, Germany

  • University Hospital Giessen; Ear, nose and throat clinic

    Giessen, Hesse, 35392, Germany

  • University Hospital Regensburg, Clinic and Polyclinic for Radiotherapy

    Regensburg, Bavaria, 93053, Germany

  • University Hospital Ulm, Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery

    Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, 89070, Germany