New drug combo aims to boost immunotherapy for head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT05980000
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether adding ramucirumab to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) works better than pembrolizumab alone for people with PD-L1 positive head and neck cancer that has come back or spread. About 37 participants will receive either the combination or the single drug. The main goal is to see if the combo shrinks tumors more effectively.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ramucirumab and pembrolizumab
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could improve tumor shrinkage and delay cancer progression compared to standard immunotherapy alone.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 37 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Adding ramucirumab may increase side effects without clear benefit.
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
-
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a One-Two punch of radiation and immunotherapy shrink head and neck tumors before surgery?
- Can immunotherapy boost surgery outcomes in recurrent head and neck cancer?
- Can a glowing drug light up head and neck tumors?
- Can a Three-Pronged attack shrink Hard-to-Treat head and neck cancers?
- Can a Two-Target antibody shrink Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- Sharper radiation boost aims to tackle head and neck cancers that return