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Study identifier: NCT04671667 Synced from ClinicalTrials.gov · July 28, 2026
● Recruiting

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

Condition: Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma · Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma · Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma  ·  Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

PhasePhase 2
Planned participants188
Who can joinAll sexes, 18 Years to 79 Years
Healthy volunteersNo

About this study

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.

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

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Contact details are listed per location below or on the registry record.

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Locations (178)

University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer CenterBirmingham, Alabama, United StatesActive Not Recruiting
University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle Rock, Arkansas, United StatesRecruiting
Kaiser Permanente-AnaheimAnaheim, California, United StatesRecruiting
Kaiser Permanente-BellflowerBellflower, California, United StatesRecruiting
UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory CareIrvine, California, United StatesRecruiting
UC San Diego Moores Cancer CenterLa Jolla, California, United StatesActive Not Recruiting
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical CenterLos Angeles, California, United StatesRecruiting
Kaiser Permanente-OntarioOntario, California, United StatesRecruiting
UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterOrange, California, United StatesRecruiting
Sutter Cancer Centers Radiation Oncology Services-RosevilleRoseville, California, United StatesActive Not Recruiting
Sutter Roseville Medical CenterRoseville, California, United StatesActive Not Recruiting
California Protons Cancer Therapy CenterSan Diego, California, United StatesActive Not Recruiting

+ 166 more locations — full list on the registry record.

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Source record: clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04671667