Head and neck cancer
MONDO:0005627A primary or metastatic malignant neoplasm affecting the head and neck. Representative examples include oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and salivary gland carcinoma.
Also known as: head and neck neoplasm, head and neck tumors, head and neck tumours, head/neck neoplasm, tumour of head and neck, cancer of craniocervical region, cancer of head and neck, cancer of the head and neck
4602 clinical trials for this condition and its sub-types, 637 tagged with Head and neck cancer itself.
Follow this condition to get notified about new trialsWhere it sits in the disease tree
Browse by category →Sub-types of Head and neck cancer
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Head and neck carcinoma 73 trials · 1,415 incl. sub-types
16 sub-types
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma 829 trials · 1,053 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Lip and oral cavity carcinoma 94 trials · 258 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Oropharyngeal carcinoma 99 trials · 242 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma 210 trials · 211 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Hypopharyngeal carcinoma 35 trials · 86 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus carcinoma 21 trials · 44 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Nasal cavity carcinoma 3 trials · 9 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Eye carcinoma 0 trials · 5 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Pituitary adenocarcinoma 3 trials Sub-types →
- Carcinoma of floor of mouth 1 trial · 2 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- External ear carcinoma 0 trials · 1 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Middle ear carcinoma 1 trial Sub-types →
- Ameloblastic carcinoma 0 trials
- Growth hormone-producing pituitary gland carcinoma 0 trials
- Laryngeal small cell carcinoma 0 trials
- Pharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma 0 trials
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Malignant tumor of neck 14 trials · 505 incl. sub-types
1 sub-type
- Pharynx cancer 10 trials · 495 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
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Ocular cancer 10 trials · 168 incl. sub-types
10 sub-types
- Ocular melanoma 15 trials · 107 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Uveal cancer 2 trials · 102 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Retinal cancer 2 trials · 35 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Eye lymphoma 0 trials · 16 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Conjunctival cancer 0 trials · 5 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Eye carcinoma 0 trials · 5 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Eyelid cancer 3 trials · 4 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm in the eye 1 trial
- Cornea cancer 0 trials Sub-types →
- Lacrimal system cancer 0 trials Sub-types →
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Salivary gland cancer 62 trials · 81 incl. sub-types
3 sub-types
- Salivary gland carcinoma 26 trials · 36 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Major salivary gland cancer 7 trials · 16 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Malignant tumor of minor salivary gland 0 trials Sub-types →
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Skull cancer 0 trials · 38 incl. sub-types
6 sub-types
- Paranasal sinus cancer 4 trials · 24 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Jaw cancer 1 trial · 5 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Skull base chordoma 5 trials Sub-types →
- Pituitary cancer 2 trials · 4 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Orbital cancer 0 trials · 2 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Malignant jugulotympanic paraganglioma 0 trials
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Tongue cancer 26 trials · 35 incl. sub-types
2 sub-types
- Tongue squamous cell carcinoma 9 trials · 13 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Tongue carcinoma 4 trials
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Lip cancer 12 trials · 15 incl. sub-types
3 sub-types
- Carcinoma of lip 0 trials · 2 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Lower lip cancer 1 trial
- Upper lip cancer 0 trials
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Nasal cavity cancer 5 trials · 14 incl. sub-types
3 sub-types
- Nasal cavity carcinoma 3 trials · 9 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Nasal cavity lymphoma 0 trials
- Nasal cavity olfactory neuroblastoma 0 trials
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Malignant cranial nerve neoplasm 0 trials · 4 incl. sub-types
5 sub-types
- Olfactory neuroblastoma 4 trials Sub-types →
- Malignant neoplasm of acoustic nerve 0 trials
- Malignant olfactory nerve neoplasm 0 trials
- Oculomotor nerve cancer 0 trials
- Optic nerve astrocytoma 0 trials
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Cheek mucosa cancer 1 trial · 2 incl. sub-types
1 sub-type
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Gingival cancer 1 trial · 2 incl. sub-types
2 sub-types
- Upper gum cancer 2 trials
- Lower gum cancer 0 trials
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Malignant ear neoplasm 0 trials · 2 incl. sub-types
3 sub-types
- External ear cancer 0 trials · 1 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Middle ear cancer 0 trials · 1 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Inner ear cancer 0 trials
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Malignant tumor of floor of mouth 0 trials · 2 incl. sub-types
1 sub-type
- Carcinoma of floor of mouth 1 trial · 2 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
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Hard palate cancer 0 trials · 1 incl. sub-types
1 sub-type
- Carcinoma of hard palate 1 trial
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Angiosarcoma of the scalp 0 trials
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Malignant carotid body paraganglioma 0 trials
Most studied deeper sub-types
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New combo aims to boost immune attack on HPV-Driven head and neck cancer
Disease control Stopped earlyThis Phase 3 trial tests whether adding an experimental immunotherapy called PDS0101 to the standard drug pembrolizumab helps people with advanced HPV16-positive head and neck cancer live longer. About 252 participants will receive either the combination or pembrolizumab alone. T…
Phase 3 • Sponsor: PDS Biotechnology Corp. • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Sep 04, 2026 00:00 UTC
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New drug combo shows early promise against Hard-to-Treat cancers
Disease control Stopped earlyThis early-stage study tested a new drug called BI 765049, alone or combined with another drug (ezabenlimab), in 21 Asian adults with advanced solid tumors (stomach, colorectal, pancreatic, liver, head and neck, or lung cancer) that have a specific marker called B7-H6. The main g…
Phase 1 • Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Aug 29, 2026 00:00 UTC
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Can a new drug combo revive Immunotherapy's power against resistant tumors?
Disease control Stopped earlyThis trial is testing whether an experimental drug called NC410, when combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, can safely and effectively treat people with advanced solid tumors that have not responded to standard immunotherapy or that are unlikely to respond. The stud…
Phase 1/2 • Sponsor: NextCure, Inc. • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Aug 15, 2026 00:00 UTC
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Could a common chemo drug boost the benefits of palliative radiation for advanced cancer?
Disease control Stopped earlyThis phase 3 trial tests whether adding the chemotherapy drug carboplatin to standard palliative radiotherapy helps control tumor growth and reduce pain better than radiotherapy alone. The study includes adults with advanced lung or head and neck cancer who need palliative radiat…
Phase 3 • Sponsor: Institut Cancerologie de l'Ouest • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:04 UTC
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Promising combo therapy for head and neck cancer hits early snag
Disease control Stopped earlyThis phase II trial tested two drug combinations—ibrutinib plus nivolumab or ibrutinib plus cetuximab—in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The goal was to see if these combinations could shrink tumors or slow disease progression. However…
Phase 2 • Sponsor: University of California, San Diego • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:36 UTC
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Experimental drug combo for head and neck cancer shows early promise
Disease control Stopped earlyThis early-stage trial tested an experimental drug called xevinapant combined with standard chemotherapy and radiation in people with head and neck cancer who cannot take the usual drug cisplatin. The goal was to find the safest dose of xevinapant. The study was terminated early,…
Phase 1 • Sponsor: University of Chicago • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:02 UTC
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Pfizer tests new drug combo for advanced cancers – but study ends early
Disease control Stopped earlyThis early-phase study tested a new drug called PF-07921585, given alone or with another drug (sasanlimab), in adults with advanced solid tumors like lung, bladder, kidney, melanoma, head & neck, or colorectal cancer. The goal was to check safety and find the right dose. Only 4 p…
Phase 1 • Sponsor: Pfizer • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:00 UTC
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Immunotherapy-Chemo cocktail tested for head and neck cancer – early trial stopped
Disease control Stopped earlyThis early-phase trial tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug durvalumab to standard chemotherapy (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU) is safe for people with advanced head and neck cancer. Only 14 patients were enrolled before the study was stopped. The goal was to find the ri…
Phase 1 • Sponsor: Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:00 UTC
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Quit smoking before surgery to cut complications, study finds
Disease control Stopped earlyThis study looked at whether a structured smoking cessation program starting four weeks before surgery could reduce complications in smokers undergoing intermediate to high-risk operations. Researchers planned to enroll 251 adult smokers scheduled for surgeries like abdominal, th…
Sponsor: Luzerner Kantonsspital • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 09:09 UTC
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New drug combo aims to stop head and neck cancer relapse in High-Risk patients
Disease control Stopped earlyThis study tested whether adding the drug xevinapant to standard radiation therapy could help prevent head and neck cancer from coming back after surgery. It included 166 people with high-risk cancer who could not take the usual chemotherapy drug cisplatin. The trial was stopped …
Phase 3 • Sponsor: EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 09:06 UTC
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Cancer combo trial halted early – what went wrong?
Disease control Stopped earlyThis phase 2 trial tested a combination of two drugs, niraparib and dostarlimab, in 51 adults with advanced solid tumors that had DNA repair defects or were sensitive to platinum chemotherapy. The goal was to see if the combo could shrink tumors. However, the study was terminated…
Phase 2 • Sponsor: Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 08:00 UTC
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New cancer drug trial halted early
Disease control Stopped earlyThis early-stage study tested a new drug called BDC-3042, alone or with another drug (cemiplimab), in 17 people with advanced cancers like breast, kidney, ovarian, head and neck, colorectal, lung, or melanoma. The main goal was to check safety and find the right dose. The study w…
Phase 1 • Sponsor: Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:57 UTC
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Targeted drug shows promise for rare genetic cancers
Disease control Stopped earlyThis study tested a drug called niraparib in 22 adults with advanced solid tumors (like breast, lung, or pancreatic cancer) that have a specific genetic change called a PALB2 mutation. The goal was to see if the drug could shrink tumors or slow cancer growth. The study was stoppe…
Phase 2 • Sponsor: Tempus AI • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:55 UTC
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New PET tracer aims to reveal hidden immune activity in tumors and arteries
Diagnosis Stopped earlyThis Phase II study tested a radioactive tracer called 68GaNOTA-Anti-MMR-VHH2 to see if it can light up certain immune cells (macrophages) on PET scans. The trial included 29 people with head and neck cancer, lymphoma, atherosclerosis, or sarcoidosis. The goal was to see if the t…
Phase 2 • Sponsor: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel • Aim: Diagnosis
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:00 UTC
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App for cancer depression fails to launch: trial ends after just one participant
Symptom relief Stopped earlyThis study aimed to see if a smartphone app called IONA Mind could help treat depression in people who have had head and neck cancer. Participants would use the app for 6 weeks and fill out surveys. However, the trial was terminated early after enrolling only 1 person, so no mean…
Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Aug 01, 2026 00:00 UTC
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Head and neck cancer drug combo safety trial halted early
Symptom relief Stopped earlyThis early-phase study aimed to see if adding the drug xevinapant to standard chemoradiotherapy is safe for people with advanced head and neck cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The study planned to enroll 18 participants but was terminated early. The main focus was on sid…
Phase 1 • Sponsor: EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:52 UTC
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Mouthwash makeover: can a dental cleanup beat Radiation's painful side effect?
Symptom relief Stopped earlyThis study tested whether a special oral care routine (dental cleaning and mouth treatment) could reduce severe mouth sores in people getting radiation for head and neck cancer. About 60 adults were planned to join, but the study was stopped early. The goal was to see if this app…
Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:52 UTC
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Can a simple online Check-In help cancer patients cope?
Knowledge-focused Stopped earlyThis study tested whether a web-based screening tool could help monitor depression and distress in adults who had surgery for new head and neck cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to use the tool or receive usual care. The goal was to see if the tool led to more timely me…
Sponsor: University of Alberta • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:32 UTC
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Could a tailored Check-Up schedule improve life after head and neck cancer?
Knowledge-focused Stopped earlyThis study aimed to find the best way to follow up with patients after they finish curative treatment for head and neck cancer. Researchers compared a personalized follow-up schedule, tailored to each patient's needs, with the usual one-size-fits-all approach. The goal was to see…
Sponsor: Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 09:09 UTC