New Drug-Radiation combo shows promise for Tough-to-Treat head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT04533750
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing whether adding the drug peposertib to standard radiation therapy is safe and effective for people with advanced head and neck cancer who cannot take the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. The study involves 21 participants and aims to find the best dose of peposertib while monitoring side effects and tumor response. If successful, it could offer a new treatment path for this group of patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- peposertib (a drug that may block enzymes needed for cancer cell growth)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for head and neck cancer patients who cannot take standard chemotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase I trial with only 21 participants, so it is primarily testing safety and dosing. It may not show strong anti-cancer effects, and side effects are unknown.
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
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Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, Arizona, 85234, United States
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Banner University Medical Center - Tucson
Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
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Carle Cancer Center
Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States
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Carle Physician Group-Effingham
Effingham, Illinois, 62401, United States
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Carle Physician Group-Mattoon/Charleston
Mattoon, Illinois, 61938, United States
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Carle at The Riverfront
Danville, Illinois, 61832, United States
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Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
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Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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Highland Hospital
Rochester, New York, 14620, United States
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Inova Schar Cancer Institute
Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
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Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
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Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
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Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island
Mineola, New York, 11501, United States
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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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Providence Portland Medical Center
Portland, Oregon, 97213, United States
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Sanford Cancer Center Oncology Clinic
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57104, United States
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Sanford USD Medical Center - Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57117-5134, United States
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Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto
Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States
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The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky, 40202, United States
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UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
La Jolla, California, 92093, United States
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UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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University of Arizona Cancer Center-North Campus
Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
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University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-Sylvester Cancer Center
Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
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University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, 14642, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Blood test may tailor throat cancer treatment, sparing patients from harsh side effects
- Aiming to spare the neck: could smarter radiation cut side effects in oral cancer?
- Can a Three-Pronged attack shrink Hard-to-Treat head and neck cancers?
- Promising new combo targets tough head and neck cancer
- AI-Designed mRNA vaccine takes on advanced tumors in first human test