Immunotherapy boost may help prevent head and neck cancer return

NCT ID NCT03480672

First seen Feb 19, 2026 · Last updated May 16, 2026 · Updated 13 times

Summary

This study tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard chemoradiation after surgery helps prevent cancer from coming back in people with advanced head and neck cancer. About 211 participants who had their tumor completely removed were randomly assigned to receive either standard treatment or standard treatment plus pembrolizumab. The main goal was to see if the combination improves the time people live without their cancer returning or worsening.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie CVK

    Berlin, Germany

  • Charité - Universitätsmedizin, CVK und CCM, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde

    Berlin, Germany

  • Department of Head Medicine and Oral Health, University of Leipzig

    Leipzig, 04103, Germany

  • Ernst von Bergmann Klinikum Potsdam, Zentrum für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Strahlenheilkunde, Klinik für Hämatologie und

    Potsdam, Germany

  • Helios Klinikum Erfurt GmbH, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde

    Erfurt, Germany

  • Kath. Marienkrankenhaus gGmbH, Zentrum für Innere Medizin Hämatologie/Onkologie

    Hamburg, Germany

  • Klinikum Bielefeld, Onkologie/Hämatologie/ Palliativmedizin

    Bielefeld, Germany

  • Klinikum Stuttgart - Katharinenhospital, Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie

    Stuttgart, Germany

  • UNIVERSITÄTSKLINIKUM Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck

    Lübeck, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Bonn; Med. Klinik III / ZIM, Hämatologie/Onkologie

    Bonn, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radiologische Onkologie

    Düsseldorf, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie

    Essen, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Jena, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde

    Jena, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Hals-Nasen-Ohren Klinik

    Mannheim, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie

    Regensburg, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Würzburg; Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie

    Würzburg, Germany

Conditions

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