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Testing What Happens When an Immunotherapy Drug (Pembrolizumab) is Given by Itself Compared to the Usual Treatment of Chemotherapy With Radiation After Surgery for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

NCT04671667 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 188

Last updated 2026-05-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This phase II trial studies the effect of pembrolizumab alone compared to the usual approach (chemotherapy \[cisplatin and carboplatin\] plus radiation therapy) after surgery in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has come back (recurrent) or patients with a second head and neck cancer that is not from metastasis (primary). Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation or protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Carboplatin is also in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving pembrolizumab alone after surgery may work better than the usual approach in shrinking recurrent or primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Conditions

  • Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Recurrent Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Interventions

DRUG

Carboplatin

Given IV

DRUG

Cisplatin

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Computed Tomography

Undergo CT

RADIATION

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

Undergo IMRT

PROCEDURE

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Undergo MRI

BIOLOGICAL

Pembrolizumab

Given IV

RADIATION

Proton Beam Radiation Therapy

Undergo PBRT

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Dan P Zandberg · ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
79 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-04-27
Primary Completion
2029-06-30
Completion
2029-06-30
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Drugs

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04671667 on ClinicalTrials.gov