Clinical trials · Boston, MA
Head and Neck Cancer clinical trials in Boston
We’re tracking 52 recruiting head and neck cancer studies with a site in or near Boston — including Early Phase 1, Phase 1, Phase 1/Phase 2, Phase 2, Phase 2/Phase 3 and Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies near Boston
- NCT07405645Recruiting
Focused Ultrasound for Cancer Pain in the Head or Neck
This trial tests a non-invasive focused ultrasound treatment aimed at a specific brain area to reduce severe cancer-related pain in the head, neck, or upper chest. It may help if your pain hasn't responded to standard medications.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18–85 - NCT06788990RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Study of ficerafusp alfa with pembrolizumab for advanced head and neck cancer
This study tests a new drug called ficerafusp alfa (BCA101) combined with the immunotherapy pembrolizumab for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has not been treated before. The goal is to see if adding ficerafusp alfa helps shrink tumors better than pembrolizumab alone.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT06064877RecruitingPhase 3
Study of ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab for advanced head and neck cancer
This trial tests a combination of two drugs, ficlatuzumab and cetuximab, for people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer that is HPV-negative and has not responded to prior immunotherapy and chemotherapy. It aims to see if this combination can help shrink tumors or slow the disease.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT07465276RecruitingPhase 2
Two immunotherapies before surgery for head and neck cancer
This trial tests a new combination of two immunotherapy drugs (ficerafusp alfa and pembrolizumab) given before surgery for advanced head and neck cancer that can be removed. The goal is to see if this approach can shrink the tumor and improve outcomes.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT06744296Recruiting
ctDNA surveillance for HPV-negative head and neck cancer
This trial uses a blood test to look for tiny bits of tumor DNA after treatment for head and neck cancer. It aims to see if this test can detect any remaining cancer cells early, so you and your doctor can make informed decisions.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04389632RecruitingPhase 1
Sigvotatug vedotin for advanced solid tumors that spread
This early-stage study tests a drug called sigvotatug vedotin in people with advanced solid cancers that cannot be removed or have spread. It aims to see how well the treatment works and what side effects it causes.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT07214987RecruitingPhase 2
PDT with immunotherapy and chemo for head and neck cancer
This trial tests a combination of an immunotherapy drug (toripalimab) and two chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin and docetaxel) as a first treatment before surgery or radiation for advanced head and neck cancers. It may help shrink tumors that can't be easily treated with standard therapy.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT06385080RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study of amivantamab for head and neck cancer
This trial tests a drug called amivantamab, either alone or with other treatments, for people with head and neck cancer that has spread or come back. The goal is to see if the drug can help shrink tumors or control the cancer.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT05059444Recruiting
Blood test study to watch for cancer coming back
This study looks at whether blood tests can detect signs that cancer may return after curative-intent treatment. You would have blood drawn around your usual follow-up visits for up to 5 years, and your de-identified health data would be shared with study investigators.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT06239194RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
MdX2001 for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests a new drug, MDX2001, for people with advanced solid tumors that have spread. The study aims to find the best dose and see how well it works.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT05349227Recruiting
After-cancer digital coaching and wearable tracking outcomes study
This study tests a digital health coaching program (using phone/tablet check-ins and wearable data) to understand health and quality-of-life outcomes after cancer treatment. It may help you learn healthy habits and track progress over time.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT02734537RecruitingPhase 2
Radiation with or without cisplatin after head and neck surgery
This trial studies whether adding cisplatin (a chemotherapy medicine) to radiation therapy helps people with stage III–IVA squamous cell cancer of the head and neck after they’ve had surgery. It’s meant to lower the risk of the cancer coming back.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04585750RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study drug for TP53 Y220C-mutated advanced cancers
This early-phase study tests PC14586 (rezatapopt) in people with advanced or metastatic solid cancers that carry a specific TP53 mutation called Y220C. It mainly looks at safety and how well the treatment may work, sometimes combined with pembrolizumab.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 12 years+ - NCT04534205RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Testing BNT113 plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone
This trial studies whether adding BNT113 to pembrolizumab works better and is safe for people with HPV16-positive head and neck cancer that can’t be cured with local treatments. It also compares outcomes to pembrolizumab alone, specifically for tumors that show PD-L1 in testing.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04429542RecruitingPhase 1
Test of an EGFR-targeting drug for advanced solid cancers
This Phase 1 study tests the safety of BCA101 (an EGFR-targeting treatment) alone or combined with pembrolizumab. It may help people with certain EGFR-driven advanced cancers, depending on the tumor type, prior treatments, and required biopsy testing.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04333537RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Sentinel node biopsy versus standard neck surgery for early mouth cancer
This trial compares two ways of checking whether early oral cavity squamous cell cancer has spread to neck lymph nodes. It tests whether sentinel lymph node biopsy can find spread as well as standard neck dissection, while potentially reducing more extensive surgery for some people.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04545957Recruiting
Radiation planning study using MRI for adults with cancer
This trial tests a “master protocol” approach to use MRI (a detailed body scan) to help plan radiation treatment for people with cancer. It may help doctors customize radiation more accurately, depending on your specific cancer type.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT05553782RecruitingEarly Phase 1
IMD device study for certain head and neck cancers
This early-phase study tests a new small device (placed through the skin) plus standard surgery to study head and neck cancers. It may help researchers understand how the device works and gather safety information for people who need definitive surgery for a measurable tumor.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04671667RecruitingPhase 2
Pembrolizumab vs chemo-radiation after surgery for recurrent head/neck cancer
This trial tests whether pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) works better than the usual chemo plus radiation after surgery for cancer that has come back in the head and neck area. It may help reduce cancer returning or spreading by using your immune system, but eligibility depends on how the cancer came back and your prior treatments.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18–79 - NCT05136196RecruitingPhase 2
Cabozantinib plus nivolumab for advanced melanoma or head-neck cancer
This trial tests whether combining two immunotherapy medicines—cabozantinib and nivolumab—can shrink advanced melanoma or certain head-and-neck squamous cell cancers. It is mainly for people whose cancer has grown after prior PD-1 treatment.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT05280314RecruitingPhase 2
Immunotherapy before and after surgery for stage III melanoma or throat cancer
This trial tests two immunotherapy medicines given before surgery and again after surgery to help control the cancer and improve outcomes. It studies people with resectable (operable) stage III melanoma or certain stage III/IVA throat cancers.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04981119Recruiting
Test apheresis for CAR T manufacturing in HLA-A2 solid tumors
This trial studies how a process called apheresis is used to make CAR T cells for people with certain solid tumors. It is designed for tumors that have lost a specific immune marker (HLA-A*02), which may affect how well CAR T therapies work.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT05669430RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing an anti-cancer drug alone and with pembrolizumab
This early-phase study tests GV20-0251 (an anti-cancer treatment) by itself and combined with pembrolizumab, to see how well it works and how safe it is. It is for adults with advanced solid tumors that have grown despite standard treatments, or where standard treatments aren’t an option.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT05334069Recruiting
Blood test study for early cancer detection in patients
This study collects blood from people with cancer and people without cancer (or with possible cancer) to test whether new blood tests can detect cancer earlier. Your blood samples help researchers evaluate how well these tests work.
Jamaica Plain, MassachusettsAges 40–75
Hear when a new Head and Neck Cancer trial opens near Boston, MA
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Head and Neck Cancer trials in other cities
Where these studies are running near Boston
Institutions with a site for the recruiting head and neck cancer studies listed above.
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · 11 studies
- Massachusetts General Hospital · 9 studies
- Brigham and Women's Hospital · 5 studies
- Tufts Medical Center · 4 studies
- Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center Stoneham · 2 studies
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Medical Center
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
What taking part in a head and neck cancer study involves
A screening visit first
Before anything else, the study team checks whether you fit — usually a visit with some tests. You can stop at any point, and screening is typically free.
Care at a nearby site
Study visits happen at a clinic or hospital taking part. Many studies cover the cost of the study treatment and related visits, and some reimburse travel.
You stay in control
Taking part is voluntary and you can leave a study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your regular care.
The team decides eligibility
Our fit check is a helpful first read, not a decision. The study team makes the final call after reviewing your health history.
Looking wider? See all recruiting head and neck cancer studies in Massachusetts.
Common questions
- Are there head and neck cancer clinical trials near Boston?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 52 recruiting head and neck cancer studies with a site near Boston, each rewritten in plain language so you can see what it's testing and who it's for.
- How do I find out if I qualify for a head and neck cancer study near Boston?
- Each study lists its eligibility rules — age, diagnosis, prior treatments. On every trial page we explain these in plain language and offer a short, optional pre-screen for a fit read. The study team makes the final decision.
- Do I have to live in Boston to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site near Boston, but eligibility is about your health, not your address — some people travel to take part, and a few studies reimburse travel. The study team can tell you what's required.
- Does it cost anything to join a head and neck cancer trial?
- Using Clin2 is always free. Many trials cover the study treatment and related visits; some reimburse travel. The study team explains exactly what's covered before you decide.
Not the right time?
New head and neck cancer studies open near Boston regularly. Set up a health profile and we’ll quietly watch for studies that fit you and email you when one opens.