Clinical Trials for Head And Neck Cancer

A Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Circulating Tumor DNA Response-Adaptive Pulsed Chemotherapy in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The SINERGY Trial (Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck Response-Guided Therapy)

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with untreated recurrent/metastatic HNSCC (ECOG 0–1, measurable disease, tissue for PD-L1) receive pembrolizumab (anti–PD‑1) alone or with ctDNA-guided, response-adaptive pulsed carboplatin/paclitaxel, with subsequent therapy intensity adjusted based on ctDNA dynamics. Excludes prior PD‑1 therapy, active autoimmune disease requiring immunosuppression, brain mets, and baseline non-measurable ctDNA.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05420948

The Use of 124-I-PET/CT Whole Body and Lesional Dosimetry in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with RAI-avid differentiated thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy with persistent/recurrent or metastatic disease undergo 124I-PET/CT dosimetry under two TSH-stimulation methods (recombinant human TSH vs thyroid hormone withdrawal), then receive patient-specific maximum safe-dose 131I therapy based on THW dosimetry. The study evaluates per-lesion and whole-body dosimetry and correlates predicted lesional dose with subsequent treatment response.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03841617

Phase Ib Study of Losartan, Pembrolizumab and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in Patients With Locoregionally Recurrent, Refractory, or Oligometastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

High burden on patient

The trial has a high burden on patients. An example would be a phase 1 trial with extra tumor biopsies and frequent pharmacokinetic blood draws.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with locoregionally recurrent, refractory, or oligometastatic (≤4 lesions) HNSCC (non-nasopharyngeal; CPS >1%) receive losartan lead-in, SBRT to involved sites, then pembrolizumab; prior RT/systemic therapy allowed but no prior PD‑1/PD‑L1 and no current ACEi/ARB. Losartan (angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker) is used to remodel tumor stroma and enhance radiation/immunotherapy efficacy, followed by PD‑1 blockade with pembrolizumab.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06211335

Study of Intratumoral Injections of VLPONC-01 in Head and Neck Cancer

High burden on patient

The trial has a high burden on patients. An example would be a phase 1 trial with extra tumor biopsies and frequent pharmacokinetic blood draws.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma eligible for intratumoral injection: either unresectable/recurrent/metastatic disease post–PD-1/PD-L1 and standard therapies (IT VLPONC-01 alone) or resectable stage I–IVb disease planned for surgery (neoadjuvant pembrolizumab with or without IT VLPONC-01). VLPONC-01 is a virus replicon particle–delivered self-amplifying RNA encoding IL-12 to drive local innate/adaptive immune activation and potentially sensitize tumors to PD-1 blockade.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06736379

Pilot Phase II Study to Evaluate Effect of Cetuximab Given as Single Agent After Immunotherapy With PD-1 Inhibitors in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with recurrent/metastatic HNSCC who have progressed on or were intolerant to prior PD‑1–based therapy receive single‑agent cetuximab (weekly IV), an anti‑EGFR monoclonal antibody that blocks ligand-induced signaling and mediates ADCC. Single-arm study assessing response rate, with secondary PFS/OS and safety.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04375384

Alternating Treatment Plans for Participants With Advanced Thoracic/Head & Neck Cancers (ATATcH)

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with untreated metastatic NSCLC (squamous or nonsquamous without targetable drivers) or incurable recurrent/metastatic HNSCC eligible for pembrolizumab-based first line receive an alternating induction schedule of chemoimmunotherapy cycles interspersed with pembrolizumab monotherapy. Regimens use standard backbones (carboplatin/paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel for squamous NSCLC; carboplatin/pemetrexed with optional pemetrexed maintenance for nonsquamous NSCLC; carboplatin/5-FU for HNSCC) plus pembrolizumab, an anti–PD-1 antibody.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05358548

KEYSTROKE: A Randomized Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) Plus Stereotactic Re-irradiation Versus SBRT Alone for Locoregionally Recurrent or Second Primary Head and Neck Carcinoma

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC after prior radiotherapy (≥30 Gy), confined to a single target (total GTV <7.5 cm) without metastases, are randomized to SBRT re-irradiation with or without pembrolizumab. Pembrolizumab is an anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody added every 3 weeks for up to 2 years, with crossover permitted at progression.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03546582

Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab in Metastatic or Locally Advanced Anaplastic/Undifferentiated Thyroid Cancer

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with unresectable locally advanced (neck-confined after prior surgery/radiation) or metastatic anaplastic/undifferentiated thyroid cancer, ECOG 0–1, and no prior PD‑1/PD‑L1 therapy receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV q3w for up to 2 years. Pembrolizumab is a PD‑1 immune checkpoint inhibitor restoring antitumor T-cell activity; key exclusions include active CNS disease (unless treated/stable), autoimmune disease requiring systemic therapy, chronic immunosuppression, and active HIV/HBV/HCV.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05119296

Combination Radiotherapy and Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Treatment Planning for Thyroid Cancer

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

Started >3 years ago

The trial was activated more than 3 years ago. This is not always bad but can indicate that the trial has less current treatments, or has had trouble getting enough patients to enroll due to other issues.

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with iodine‑avid but RAI‑insufficient papillary/follicular DTC with unresectable locoregional invasion and/or distant metastases receive individualized combination therapy of systemic I‑131 and external beam radiotherapy, using integrated dosimetry to escalate cumulative dose (target ≥80 Gy) to selected lesions. Aims to assess safety and preliminary efficacy with coordinated RAI+XRT planning in patients with adequate organ function and no contraindications to TSH stimulation or radiation.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04892303

Phase 1/2 Open Label, Safety and Preliminary Efficacy Study of a Live Biotherapeutic Product (CJRB-101) in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Subjects With Selected Types of Advanced or Metastatic Cancer

Moderate burden on patient

The trial has a moderate burden on patients. An example would be a trial testing an IV drug, with scans every 8 weeks which would be more frequent than standard of care.

No known activity

No investigational drug(s) in this trial have shown anticancer activity yet in clinical trials

HealthScout AI summary: Adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC (EGFR/ALK–, PD-L1 TPS ≥50%), HNSCC (PD-L1 CPS ≥20), or melanoma (any PD-L1/BRAF) who are either ICI-naive or have progressed on prior PD‑1/PD‑L1 therapy receive pembrolizumab plus CJRB‑101, an oral live biotherapeutic (Leuconostoc mesenteroides) designed to modulate the tumor-immune microenvironment (macrophage repolarization, APC activation, ↑CD8+ infiltration) to enhance PD‑1 blockade. Key exclusions include EGFR/ALK+ NSCLC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, uncontrolled brain mets, significant autoimmune disease/IBD, key infections, and inability to take oral capsules.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05877430