Clinical trials · California
Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma clinical trials in California
We’re tracking 32 recruiting oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma studies with a site in California — including 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 in California
- NCT07441681RecruitingPhase 3
Comparing radiation plus targeted therapy vs standard chemo for head and neck cancer
This trial compares two treatments for advanced head and neck cancer in patients who cannot take the drug cisplatin. One group gets radiation plus a targeted drug called cetuximab, the other gets radiation plus standard chemotherapy. The goal is to see which approach works better and is safer for people who are not candidates for cisplatin.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07219212RecruitingPhase 1
New drug with chemo and radiation for advanced head and neck cancer
This study tests if adding an investigational drug called JNJ-90301900 to standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy works better for people with certain advanced head and neck cancers (like mouth, throat, and voice box) that have not spread to other parts of the body.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18–74 - NCT07203911Recruiting
Ultrasound guidance for oral cancer surgery
This trial tests whether surgeons can use ultrasound during surgery to better guide the removal of oral cancer. It may help ensure all cancer is removed while sparing healthy tissue.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07195734RecruitingPhase 2
Adding chemo or immunotherapy before surgery for advanced head and neck cancer
This trial tests whether giving chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus immunotherapy before surgery can improve outcomes for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has come back or not gone away after prior treatment.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07156227RecruitingPhase 1
Testing camonsertib with radiation for returning head and neck cancer
This study tests whether adding the drug camonsertib to radiation therapy can help people whose head and neck cancer has come back in a spot that was already treated with radiation. Camonsertib is an experimental drug that may help radiation work better.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06980038RecruitingPhase 2
Testing two immunotherapy drugs before surgery for advanced head and neck cancer
This trial tests whether adding a second immunotherapy drug (CDX-1140) to the standard immunotherapy cemiplimab before surgery is better than cemiplimab alone for people with stage III-IV head and neck cancer that can be removed with surgery.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - 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.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06769698RecruitingPhase 2
Testing fianlimab with cemiplimab for head and neck cancer
This study compares a new combination of two drugs (fianlimab and cemiplimab) against cemiplimab alone for people with head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. It aims to see if the combination works better.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06736379RecruitingPhase 1
Injected immune therapy for head and neck cancer
This trial tests an experimental treatment that is injected directly into the tumor to stimulate your immune system to fight the cancer. It is for people with head and neck cancer who have not been helped by prior treatments or who are scheduled for surgery.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06589804RecruitingPhase 3
Testing cetuximab plus pembrolizumab for advanced head and neck cancer
This trial tests whether adding cetuximab to the standard drug pembrolizumab works better for head and neck cancer that has spread or come back after treatment. It is for people whose cancer did not respond to platinum chemotherapy and whose tumors have a certain immune marker (PD-L1).
Marysville, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06585410RecruitingPhase 3
Cemiplimab injection for early-stage skin cancer
This trial tests a drug (cemiplimab) injected directly into early-stage skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) to see if it can shrink or cure the cancer before surgery. It may help patients avoid more extensive surgery or reduce the chance of the cancer coming back.
Oceanside, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06532279RecruitingPhase 2
Testing BMX-001 with chemoradiation for head and neck cancer
This trial tests whether adding BMX-001 (a drug that may protect healthy tissues) to standard chemoradiation can reduce side effects and improve outcomes for people with head and neck cancer. It's a randomized study, so you would have a 50/50 chance of getting BMX-001 or a placebo.
Buena Park, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06129864RecruitingPhase 3
Study of Volrustomig for advanced head and neck cancer after chemoradiation
This trial tests a new drug called volrustomig (MEDI5752) for people with advanced head and neck cancer that was not removed by surgery and has been treated with chemoradiation. The goal is to see if the drug can help prevent the cancer from coming back.
Fullerton, CaliforniaAges 18–130 - NCT06097468RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Nisin for mouth cancer: a treatment trial
This study tests whether a natural substance called nisin, applied to mouth cancer, can help the body fight cancer cells. It is for people with a specific type of mouth cancer who are already scheduled for surgery.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05893888RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Testing three investigational drugs for mouth and lung cancers
This trial tests whether PRV111, PRV211, and PRV131 are safe and work better than expected for certain mouth (lip/oral cavity) cancers and lung cancers. It may help by trying a new approach given directly to the tumor and then monitoring how well it shrinks and how safe it is.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18–100 - NCT03556228RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Tested medicine for tumors with TrkA changes, alone or with pembrolizumab
This early-phase study tests VMD-928, a targeted cancer medicine, for cancers that have TrkA-related tumor changes. It may be given by itself or with pembrolizumab to see if it can shrink tumors when standard treatments have not worked.
Santa Rosa, CaliforniaAges 18–80 - NCT05283226RecruitingPhase 2
Oral anti-cancer pill plus paclitaxel after immunotherapy failure
This Phase 2 trial studies an oral study drug (NRC-2694-A) given with paclitaxel to treat head and neck squamous cell cancer that has come back or spread after immunotherapy. It tests whether this combination is safer and works better than expected for people whose cancer progressed on immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Fullerton, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05176483RecruitingPhase 1
New drug combinations for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests a new drug called zanzalintinib, which may slow or shrink various types of advanced cancer. It is given together with other cancer treatments, and the study is looking at many different cancers including kidney, prostate, bladder, lung, liver, and more.
Palo Alto, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - 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.
Beverly Hills, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05059444Recruiting
Blood test to catch cancer early after treatment
This study looks for signs of cancer left in the body after treatment using a simple blood test (called a liquid biopsy). It aims to see if the test can catch cancer that might come back earlier than regular scans.
Redwood City, CaliforniaAges 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.
Anaheim, CaliforniaAges 18–79 - 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.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 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.
San Jose, CaliforniaAges 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.
Palm Springs, CaliforniaAges 18 years+
Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma trials by city in California
Where these studies are running in California
Institutions with a site for the recruiting oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma studies listed above.
- UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center · 7 studies
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center · 5 studies
- City of Hope · 4 studies
- Stanford University · 4 studies
- UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center · 4 studies
- UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care · 4 studies
- Los Angeles General Medical Center · 3 studies
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · 2 studies
What taking part in a oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma 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.
Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma trials in other states
Common questions
- Are there oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma clinical trials in California?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 32 recruiting oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma studies with a site in California, 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 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma study in California?
- 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 California to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site in California, 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 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma 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 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma studies open in California regularly. Set up a health profile and we’ll quietly watch for studies that fit you and email you when one opens.
Clin2 helps you find and understand clinical trials and does not provide medical advice. Study data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Talk with your doctor about whether a specific trial is right for you.