Trial Outcomes & Findings for Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer (NCT NCT03993353)

NCT ID: NCT03993353

Last Updated: 2026-02-12

Results Overview

Rate of dose limiting toxicity at least possibly attributable to study treatment

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

7 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

2 years

Results posted on

2026-02-12

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Overall Study
STARTED
7
Overall Study
COMPLETED
6
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Overall Study
Screen Failure
1

Baseline Characteristics

Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=6 Participants
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Age, Continuous
59.67 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.62 • n=41 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants
n=41 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants
n=41 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
4 Participants
n=41 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
3 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
2 Participants
n=41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
Cancer Type
Hypopharynx
1 Participants
n=41 Participants
Cancer Type
Larynx
2 Participants
n=41 Participants
Cancer Type
Oral cavity
2 Participants
n=41 Participants
Cancer Type
Oropharynx
1 Participants
n=41 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 2 years

Rate of dose limiting toxicity at least possibly attributable to study treatment

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=6 Participants
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Rate of Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT)
1 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 months

Overall survival at 12 months post-enrollment

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=6 Participants
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Overall Survival (OS)
3 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 months

Response measured by RECIST 1.1

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=3 Participants
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Response Measured by RECIST 1.1
1 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 2 years

Progression free survival

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=3 Participants
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Progression Free Survival
21.56 months
Standard Deviation 22.98

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 2 years

Adverse event rates

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=6 Participants
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Adverse Event Rates
6 Participants

Adverse Events

Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 6 other events
Deaths: 3 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=6 participants at risk
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Respiratory failure
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 1 • 2 years

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Tadalafil and Pembrolizumab
n=6 participants at risk
Tadalafil for up to 12 months and pembrolizumab for up to 24 months. Pembrolizumab: 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks Tadalafil: 10 mg by mouth daily
Endocrine disorders
Endocrine disorders
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 2 • 2 years
Eye disorders
Eye disorders
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 1 • 2 years
Gastrointestinal disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders
50.0%
3/6 • Number of events 9 • 2 years
General disorders
General disorders and administration site conditions
66.7%
4/6 • Number of events 7 • 2 years
Infections and infestations
Infections and infestations
50.0%
3/6 • Number of events 3 • 2 years
Investigations
Investigations
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 2 • 2 years
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
50.0%
3/6 • Number of events 4 • 2 years
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 2 • 2 years
Psychiatric disorders
Psychiatric disorders
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 1 • 2 years
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
83.3%
5/6 • Number of events 7 • 2 years
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
66.7%
4/6 • Number of events 5 • 2 years
Vascular disorders
Vascular disorders
16.7%
1/6 • Number of events 1 • 2 years

Additional Information

Dr. Joseph Califano

University of California, San Diego

Phone: (858) 822-5354

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place