Radiation plus immunotherapy: new hope for head and neck cancer?

NCT ID NCT03386357

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This phase 2 trial tested whether adding radiotherapy to the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) helps shrink tumors in people with metastatic head and neck cancer that has spread. The study planned to enroll 115 participants, but was terminated early. Researchers measured tumor response using standard criteria. The goal was to see if the combination works better than pembrolizumab alone.

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 radiotherapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that adding radiotherapy to immunotherapy improves tumor shrinkage in metastatic head and neck cancer.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. It is a phase 2 study with only 115 participants, so findings may not be conclusive or widely applicable.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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.

HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Bochum, St. Josef-Hospital, Abteilung für Hämatologie und Onkologie

Bochum, 44791, Germany
Dresden, Onkologische Gemeinschaftspraxis

Dresden, 01307, Germany
Düsseldorf, Universitätsklinikum, Klinik für Strahlentherrapie und Radiologische Onkologie

Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany
Erlangen, Universitätsklinikum Strahlenklinik

Erlangen, 91054, Germany
Frankfurt, Universitätsklinikum, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Onkologie

Frankfurt, 60590, Germany
Homburg, Universitätsklinikum, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie

Homburg, 66421, Germany
Regensburg, Universitätsklinikum, Klinik für Strahlentherapie

Regensburg, 93042, Germany

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.