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Cialis and keytruda together against head and neck cancer: small trial shows promise?

NCT ID NCT03993353

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University of California, San Diego Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This completed phase II study tested a combination of two drugs—tadalafil (Cialis) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda)—in 7 adults with advanced head and neck cancer that had spread or come back. The goal was to see if the combination was safe and could help control the disease. Because the trial was very small, its results are limited and more research is needed.

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) and tadalafil (Cialis)

What this could lead to

If it works, this combination could offer a new treatment option for advanced head and neck cancer that has spread or come back.

What could go wrong

This was a very small early-phase trial with only 7 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination may not work better than existing treatments and could cause side effects.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

autosomal dominant Parkinson disease 4 cancer carcinoma esophageal cancer Esophageal Neoplasms head and neck cancer head and neck carcinoma Head and Neck Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma malignant tumor of neck metastatic malignant neoplasm Mouth Neoplasms neoplasm Neoplasm Metastasis oral cavity cancer pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CANCER CANCER METASTATIC CANCER OF ESOPHAGUS CANCER OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER OF MOUTH CANCER OF NECK HEAD AND NECK CANCER HEAD AND NECK CANCER METASTATIC HEAD AND NECK CANCER STAGE III HEAD AND NECK CANCER STAGE IV HEAD AND NECK CARCINOMA HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • UCSD Moores Cancer Center

    La Jolla, California, 92093, United States