Triple-Drug attack on EGFR-Positive head and neck tumors
NCT ID NCT07814287
First seen Sep 10, 2026 · Last updated Sep 11, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether giving becotatug vedotin, pucotenlimab, and cisplatin before surgery can shrink locally advanced EGFR-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The trial enrolls 40 adults with stage III or IV disease who have not yet received treatment. Participants receive three cycles of the combination, and doctors then check tumor response to decide the next step, which may include less extensive surgery or chemoradiotherapy.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- becotatug vedotin, an EGFR-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, combined with pucotenlimab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) and cisplatin chemotherapy
- What this could lead to
- If the combination works, it could offer a new way to shrink head and neck tumors before surgery, possibly allowing less extensive operations and lowering the chance of recurrence.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-arm phase II trial with 40 participants, so any benefit seen may not hold up in larger randomized studies. The three-drug regimen can cause serious side effects, and not everyone will respond.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed, previously untreated (excluding diagnostic procedures) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx) with EGFR protein expression confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and has not received targeted therapy against the EGFR signaling pathway within 6 months prior to enrollment. Clinical stage T2N2-3M0 or T3-4N0-3M0 (stage III-IV) per AJCC 8th edition. Age 18 to 70 years. ECOG performance status 0 or 1. Assessed by head and neck oncologist as locally advanced without distant metastasis. At least one measurable lesion per RECIST v1.1. Toxicity assessment per CTCAE v4.03 (for baseline evaluation). Adequate organ function to tolerate surgery: Hematologic: WBC ≥4,000/μL, ANC ≥2,000/μL, hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL, platelets ≥100,000/μL. Hepatic: bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN (or ≤3×ULN if known Gilbert's syndrome), AST and ALT ≤3×ULN, alkaline phosphatase ≤3×ULN, albumin ≥3 g/dL. Renal: serum creatinine ≤1.5×ULN or calculated creatinine clearance ≥60 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault). Willing to provide archived tumor tissue or undergo biopsy to submit at least 3 unstained FFPE sections (additional if needed) for central PD-L1 IHC testing; lesion used for biopsy cannot be a target lesion unless no other suitable lesion exists. Signed informed consent and willingness to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, laboratory tests, and other study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: History of severe hypersensitivity to any component of other monoclonal antibodies, CTLA-4, or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Known or suspected autoimmune disease, including dementia and seizure disorder. Recurrent or metastatic disease, concurrent other malignancy, or judged inoperable by head and neck surgeon. Coagulation abnormalities (PT \>16 s, APTT \>53 s, TT \>21 s, Fib \<1.5 g/L), bleeding tendency, or current thrombolytic/anticoagulant therapy. Severe cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction less than grade 3 (including grade 3). Laboratory values not meeting eligibility criteria within 7 days prior to enrollment. Prior therapy with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies (or any other agents targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways). Comorbid conditions requiring chronic immunosuppressive therapy or systemic/local corticosteroids at immunosuppressive doses. Positive HIV; HBsAg-positive with detectable HBV DNA (≥1000 copies/mL); positive HCV antibody with detectable HCV RNA (if tested). Use of traditional herbal medicines with antitumor indications within 4 weeks prior to randomization. Active or history of inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, chronic diarrhea). Positive pregnancy test (for women of childbearing potential) or breastfeeding. Known active tuberculosis (TB); suspected cases require clinical evaluation to rule out. History of allogeneic organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to first dose, including but not limited to complications requiring hospitalization, sepsis, or severe pneumonia. Planned major surgery within 30 days after first dose (or not fully recovered from prior surgery), except for minor procedures (e.g., port placement, biopsy) if performed at least 24 hours before first dose.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
RECRUITINGGuangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
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Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
RECRUITINGGuangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
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