New combo therapy targets tough head and neck cancers

NCT ID NCT00304278

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Southern Illinois University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 study tested a combination of the drug Tarceva (erlotinib) with RADPLAT (radiation and intra-arterial cisplatin) in 21 patients with advanced head and neck cancer. The goal was to see if the combination was safe and effective at shrinking tumors. Researchers measured complete and partial responses, as well as overall and disease-free survival.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Erlotinib (Tarceva) and Cisplatin with Radiation Therapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for locally advanced head and neck cancer, potentially improving tumor response and survival.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study (21 participants) with no control group, so results may not be generalizable. Side effects from chemotherapy and radiation can be significant.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Simmons Cooper Cancer Institute/SIU School of Medicine

Springfield, Illinois, 62702, United States

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