Could less chemo be enough? new trial tests shorter treatment for head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT06557889
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing whether giving only 4 cycles of chemotherapy alongside the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab can effectively treat PD-L1-positive head and neck cancer that has spread or come back. Standard treatment usually involves 6 cycles of chemo. The study will enroll 86 people and monitor tumor response and side effects. If it works, patients might get effective treatment with fewer side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin and 5-FU)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that fewer chemotherapy cycles are just as effective, reducing side effects for patients with advanced head and neck cancer.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 86 participants and no comparison group, so results may not be definitive. Reducing chemo might also reduce effectiveness.
Disclaimer
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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.
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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Locations
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CHU Amiens
RECRUITINGAmiens, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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CHU Poitiers
RECRUITINGPoitiers, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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CHU de Nantes
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGNantes, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Centre Antoine Lacassagne
RECRUITINGNice, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Centre Eugène Marquis
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGRennes, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Centre Hospitalier Regional de Marseille
RECRUITINGMarseille, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Centre Jean Perrin
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGClermont-Ferrand, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Centre Oscar Lambret
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGLille, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Chu Bordeaux - Hopital Saint André
RECRUITINGBordeaux, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Chu Limoges
RECRUITINGLimoges, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Chu de Nimes
RECRUITINGNîmes, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Clinique Pasteur
RECRUITINGToulouse, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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IUCT-O
RECRUITINGToulouse, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Institut Sainte Catherine
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGAvignon, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••