Could changing when chemo is given boost immunotherapy for head and neck cancer?
NCT ID NCT06052839
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing a new way of giving chemotherapy along with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has come back or spread. The idea is that giving chemo in short, spaced-out pulses after immunotherapy might work better than the usual schedule. The study will enroll 15 adults whose tumors have a certain protein marker (PD-L1 CPS >1) and will track how long they live without their cancer growing.
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) plus carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy
What this could lead to
If it works, this could improve how long people with advanced head and neck cancer live without their disease getting worse, by giving chemo in a way that doesn't weaken the immune system.
What could go wrong
This is a very small early-phase trial with only 15 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The new chemo schedule could also cause more side effects or not work better than the standard approach.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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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.
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.
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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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
RECRUITINGPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
Contact
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••