Immunotherapy after salvage surgery for head and neck cancer
Treatments studied
Part of Cancer clinical trials.
This Phase 2 trial tests an immunotherapy given after salvage surgery for certain head and neck squamous cell cancers that came back (or a new second cancer) in an area that was already treated with radiation. It aims to lower the chance the cancer returns after surgery, especially in higher-risk situations.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- Your head and neck squamous cell cancer is a recurrence or a second primary in a previously irradiated area (radiation dose was at least 50 Gy).
- You had salvage surgery intended to fully remove the visible tumor, and the surgeon could remove it completely (no leftover visible cancer).
- You start the study treatment within 8 weeks (plus or minus 2 weeks) after your salvage surgery once you are healed enough.
- Scans (CT or PET) show no distant spread (no metastases).
- Your blood counts and organ tests are strong enough (for example, white blood cells and platelets must be above set thresholds, and kidney and liver tests must be acceptable).
- You can stop steroid medicines that suppress the immune system at least 2 weeks before the study treatment, and you don’t have certain immune problems.
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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This study tests whether adding immunotherapy drugs (nimotuzumab and possibly benmelstobart) to radiation therapy after head and neck cancer surgery improves outcomes. You may qualify if you've recently had surgery for squamous cell carcinoma (a common type of head and neck cancer) and have certain risk factors that suggest your cancer could return.
This Phase 2 trial tests whether giving pembrolizumab (an immune therapy) plus chemotherapy before curative surgery can improve outcomes for people with resectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell cancer. It also studies how these treatments affect the tumor and immune response using required tissue and blood samples.
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This Phase 2 trial tests pembrolizumab and an investigational drug (IO102-103) given before surgery for certain non-bulky head and neck squamous cell cancers. The goal is to shrink the cancer and improve chances of cure by treating it before the operation.
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