New combo therapy aims to outsmart resistant head and neck cancer

NCT ID NCT06589804

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 06, 2026 · Updated 15 times

Summary

This study tests whether adding cetuximab to standard immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) helps people with advanced head and neck cancer that has stopped responding to platinum chemotherapy live longer. About 158 adults with cancer that has returned or spread will receive either pembrolizumab alone or both drugs together. The goal is to see if the combination shrinks tumors and improves survival.

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.

carcinoma head and neck squamous cell carcinoma hypopharyngeal carcinoma hypopharynx cancer hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma laryngeal carcinoma laryngeal neoplasm laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma larynx cancer lip and oral cavity carcinoma lip and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma metastatic squamous cell carcinoma Mouth Neoplasms oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma skin 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

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Locations

AMG Crystal Lake - Oncology
RECRUITING

Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
AMG Libertyville - Oncology
RECRUITING

Libertyville, Illinois, 60048, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Abbott-Northwestern Hospital
RECRUITING

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55407, United States
Advocate Christ Medical Center
RECRUITING

Oak Lawn, Illinois, 60453-2699, United States
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
RECRUITING

Downers Grove, Illinois, 60515, United States
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
RECRUITING

Barrington, Illinois, 60010, United States
Advocate High Tech Medical Park
RECRUITING

Palos Heights, Illinois, 60463, United States
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
RECRUITING

Chicago, Illinois, 60657, United States
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
RECRUITING

Park Ridge, Illinois, 60068, United States
Advocate Outpatient Center - Oak Lawn
RECRUITING

Oak Lawn, Illinois, 60453, United States
Advocate Sherman Hospital
RECRUITING

Elgin, Illinois, 60123, United States
Advocate South Suburban Hospital
RECRUITING

Hazel Crest, Illinois, 60429, United States
Atrium Medical Center-Middletown Regional Hospital
RECRUITING

Franklin, Ohio, 45005-1066, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Aurora Bay Area Medical Group-Marinette
RECRUITING

Marinette, Wisconsin, 54143, United States
Aurora BayCare Medical Center
RECRUITING

Green Bay, Wisconsin, 54311, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Grafton
RECRUITING

Grafton, Wisconsin, 53024, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Kenosha South
RECRUITING

Kenosha, Wisconsin, 53142, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Milwaukee
RECRUITING

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53209, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Milwaukee West
RECRUITING

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53226, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Racine
RECRUITING

Racine, Wisconsin, 53406, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Southern Lakes VLCC
RECRUITING

Burlington, Wisconsin, 53105, United States
Aurora Health Care Germantown Health Center
RECRUITING

Germantown, Wisconsin, 53022, United States
Aurora Medical Center in Summit
RECRUITING

Summit, Wisconsin, 53066, United States
Aurora Saint Luke's Medical Center
RECRUITING

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53215, United States
Aurora Saint Luke's South Shore
RECRUITING

Cudahy, Wisconsin, 53110, United States
Aurora Sinai Medical Center
RECRUITING

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233, United States
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
RECRUITING

West Allis, Wisconsin, 53227, United States
Avera Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57105, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Avera Cancer Institute - Mitchell
RECRUITING

Mitchell, South Dakota, 57301, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Avera Cancer Institute at Pierre
RECRUITING

Pierre, South Dakota, 57501, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Avera Cancer Institute at Yankton
RECRUITING

Yankton, South Dakota, 57078, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Great Falls, Montana, 59405, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Billings Clinic Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Billings, Montana, 59101, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Boston Medical Center
RECRUITING

Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital
RECRUITING

Bozeman, Montana, 59715, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Cancer Care Center of O'Fallon
RECRUITING

O'Fallon, Illinois, 62269, United States
Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois - Decatur
RECRUITING

Decatur, Illinois, 62526, United States
Cancer Care and Hematology-Fort Collins
RECRUITING

Fort Collins, Colorado, 80528, United States
Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma Research
RECRUITING

Lawton, Oklahoma, 73505, United States
Cancer Hematology Centers - Flint
RECRUITING

Flint, Michigan, 48503, United States
Carlisle Regional Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 17015, United States
Community Hospital of Anaconda
RECRUITING

Anaconda, Montana, 59711, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Community Medical Center
RECRUITING

Missoula, Montana, 59804, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Condell Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Libertyville, Illinois, 60048, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Crossroads Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Effingham, Illinois, 62401, United States
Dartmouth Cancer Center - North
RECRUITING

Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, 05819, United States
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
Decatur Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Decatur, Illinois, 62526, United States
Fairview Southdale Hospital
RECRUITING

Edina, Minnesota, 55435, United States
FirstHealth of the Carolinas-Moore Regional Hospital
RECRUITING

Pinehurst, North Carolina, 28374, United States
Fremont - Rideout Cancer Center
TERMINATED

Marysville, California, 95901, United States
Genesee Hematology Oncology PC
SUSPENDED

Flint, Michigan, 48503, United States
Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Flint, Michigan, 48503, United States
Glens Falls Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Glens Falls, New York, 12801, United States
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
RECRUITING

La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
HaysMed
RECRUITING

Hays, Kansas, 67601, United States
Hennepin County Medical Center
RECRUITING

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States
Hurley Medical Center
RECRUITING

Flint, Michigan, 48503, United States
IRMC Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Indiana, Pennsylvania, 15701, United States
Illinois CancerCare-Macomb
RECRUITING

Macomb, Illinois, 61455, United States
Illinois CancerCare-Peoria
RECRUITING

Peoria, Illinois, 61615, United States
Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 08002, United States
Jefferson Torresdale Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19114, United States
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Post Falls
RECRUITING

Post Falls, Idaho, 83854, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Sandpoint
RECRUITING

Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Kootenai Health - Coeur d'Alene
RECRUITING

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 83814, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Lake Regional Hospital
RECRUITING

Osage Beach, Missouri, 65065, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Lawrence, Kansas, 66044, United States
Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg
RECRUITING

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18017, United States
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest
RECRUITING

Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18103, United States
Liberty Hospital
RECRUITING

Liberty, Missouri, 64068, United States
Logan Health Medical Center
RECRUITING

Kalispell, Montana, 59901, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Lutheran Hospital - Cancer Centers of Colorado
RECRUITING

Golden, Colorado, 80401, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Margaret R Pardee Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Hendersonville, North Carolina, 28791, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Marshfield Medical Center - Weston
RECRUITING

Weston, Wisconsin, 54476, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Marshfield Medical Center-EC Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Marshfield Medical Center-Marshfield
RECRUITING

Marshfield, Wisconsin, 54449, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Marshfield Medical Center-River Region at Stevens Point
RECRUITING

Stevens Point, Wisconsin, 54482, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Mary Greeley Medical Center
RECRUITING

Ames, Iowa, 50010, United States
McFarland Clinic - Ames
RECRUITING

Ames, Iowa, 50010, United States
McFarland Clinic - Boone
SUSPENDED

Boone, Iowa, 50036, United States
McFarland Clinic - Jefferson
SUSPENDED

Jefferson, Iowa, 50129, United States
McFarland Clinic - Marshalltown
RECRUITING

Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158, United States
McFarland Clinic - Trinity Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Fort Dodge, Iowa, 50501, United States
Medical Center of the Rockies
RECRUITING

Loveland, Colorado, 80538, United States
Medical University of South Carolina
RECRUITING

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
Memorial Hospital East
RECRUITING

Shiloh, Illinois, 62269, United States
Memorial Hospital North
RECRUITING

Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
RECRUITING

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen
RECRUITING

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack
RECRUITING

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth
RECRUITING

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau
RECRUITING

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
RECRUITING

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States
Mercy Hospital
RECRUITING

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403, United States
Mercy Hospital
RECRUITING

Coon Rapids, Minnesota, 55433, United States
Mercy Hospital South
RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63128, United States
Miami Valley Cancer Care and Infusion
RECRUITING

Greenville, Ohio, 45331, United States
Miami Valley Hospital
RECRUITING

Dayton, Ohio, 45409, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Miami Valley Hospital North
RECRUITING

Dayton, Ohio, 45415, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Miami Valley Hospital South
RECRUITING

Centerville, Ohio, 45459, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Minnesota Oncology - Burnsville
RECRUITING

Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337, United States
Mount Sinai Medical Center
RECRUITING

Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, United States
Oncology Associates at Mercy Medical Center
RECRUITING

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403, United States
Park Nicollet Clinic - Saint Louis Park
RECRUITING

Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, 55416, United States
Pocono Medical Center
RECRUITING

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, 18301, United States
Poudre Valley Hospital
RECRUITING

Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524, United States
ProHealth D N Greenwald Center
RECRUITING

Mukwonago, Wisconsin, 53149, United States
ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066, United States
ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188, United States
ProMedica Flower Hospital
RECRUITING

Sylvania, Ohio, 43560, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Providence Portland Medical Center
RECRUITING

Portland, Oregon, 97213, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center
RECRUITING

Portland, Oregon, 97225, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
RECRUITING

Oregon City, Oregon, 97045, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Regions Hospital
RECRUITING

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101, United States
SUNY Upstate Medical Center-Community Campus
RECRUITING

Syracuse, New York, 13215, United States
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Boise
RECRUITING

Boise, Idaho, 83706, United States
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Caldwell
RECRUITING

Caldwell, Idaho, 83605, United States
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Nampa
RECRUITING

Nampa, Idaho, 83687, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Ontario
RECRUITING

Ontario, Oregon, 97914, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Saint Francis Medical Center
RECRUITING

Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 63703, United States
Saint John's Hospital - Healtheast
RECRUITING

Maplewood, Minnesota, 55109, United States
Salina Regional Health Center
RECRUITING

Salina, Kansas, 67401, United States
Sanford Bismarck Medical Center
RECRUITING

Bismarck, North Dakota, 58501, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sanford Broadway Medical Center
RECRUITING

Fargo, North Dakota, 58122, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sanford Cancer Center Oncology Clinic
RECRUITING

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57104, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Bemidji, Minnesota, 56601, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Fargo, North Dakota, 58122, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sanford USD Medical Center - Sioux Falls
RECRUITING

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57117-5134, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Washington Township
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Sewell, New Jersey, 08080, United States
Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital
RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63136, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Siteman Cancer Center at Saint Peters Hospital
RECRUITING

City of Saint Peters, Missouri, 63376, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Siteman Cancer Center at West County Hospital
RECRUITING

Creve Coeur, Missouri, 63141, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Siteman Cancer Center-South County
RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63129, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
RECRUITING

Springfield, Illinois, 62702, United States
Springfield Clinic
RECRUITING

Springfield, Illinois, 62702, United States
Springfield Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Springfield, Illinois, 62781, United States
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
RECRUITING

Syracuse, New York, 13210, United States
The University of Kansas Cancer Center - Olathe
RECRUITING

Olathe, Kansas, 66061, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Brighton
RECRUITING

Brighton, Michigan, 48114, United States
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Canton
RECRUITING

Canton, Michigan, 48188, United States
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Chelsea Hospital
RECRUITING

Chelsea, Michigan, 48118, United States
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology Ann Arbor Campus
RECRUITING

Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197, United States
Trinity Health Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor
RECRUITING

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106, United States
Trinity Health Saint Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital
RECRUITING

Pontiac, Michigan, 48341, United States
Trinity Health Saint Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital
RECRUITING

Livonia, Michigan, 48154, United States
UC Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross
RECRUITING

New Lenox, Illinois, 60451, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UCHealth Greeley Hospital
RECRUITING

Greeley, Colorado, 80631, United States
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central
RECRUITING

Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80909, United States
UChicago Medicine Northwest Indiana
RECRUITING

Crown Point, Indiana, 46307, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC Northwest
RECRUITING

Seneca, Pennsylvania, 16346, United States
UPMC Cancer Center-Uniontown
RECRUITING

Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 15401, United States
UPMC Cancer Center-Washington
RECRUITING

Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301, United States
UPMC Cancer Centers - Arnold Palmer Pavilion
RECRUITING

Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 15601, United States
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center - Monroeville
RECRUITING

Monroeville, Pennsylvania, 15146, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Erie
RECRUITING

Erie, Pennsylvania, 16505, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Rocco And Nancy Ortenzio Cancer Pavilion
RECRUITING

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 17050, United States
UPMC Pinnacle Cancer Center/Community Osteopathic Campus
RECRUITING

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17109, United States
UPMC-Johnstown/John P. Murtha Regional Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 15901, United States
UPMC-Passavant Hospital
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15237, United States
UPMC-Saint Clair Hospital Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15243, United States
UPMC-Saint Margaret
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15215, United States
UW Cancer Center at ProHealth Care
RECRUITING

Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188, United States
UW Health Carbone Cancer Center Rockford
RECRUITING

Rockford, Illinois, 61114, United States
United Hospital
RECRUITING

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55102, United States
University Health Truman Medical Center
RECRUITING

Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, United States
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
RECRUITING

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University of Chicago Medicine-Orland Park
RECRUITING

Orland Park, Illinois, 60462, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University of Kansas Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center - Briarcliff
RECRUITING

Kansas City, Missouri, 64116, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center - Lee's Summit
RECRUITING

Lee's Summit, Missouri, 64064, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center - North
RECRUITING

Kansas City, Missouri, 64154, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center-Overland Park
RECRUITING

Overland Park, Kansas, 66210, United States
University of Kansas Health System Saint Francis Campus
RECRUITING

Topeka, Kansas, 66606, United States
University of Kansas Hospital-Indian Creek Campus
RECRUITING

Overland Park, Kansas, 66211, United States
University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States
University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
University of Michigan Health - Sparrow Lansing
RECRUITING

Lansing, Michigan, 48912, United States
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
RECRUITING

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
Upper Valley Medical Center
RECRUITING

Troy, Ohio, 45373, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Upstate Cancer Center at Verona
RECRUITING

Verona, New York, 13478, United States
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
RECRUITING

Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States
VCU Massey Cancer Center at Stony Point
RECRUITING

Richmond, Virginia, 23235, United States
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic - Oshkosh
RECRUITING

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 54904, United States
Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic-Sheboygan
RECRUITING

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 53081, United States
Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic-Two Rivers
RECRUITING

Two Rivers, Wisconsin, 54241, United States
Washington University School of Medicine
RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
West Virginia University Charleston Division
RECRUITING

Charleston, West Virginia, 25304, United States

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