Pembrolizumab plus chemo before surgery for recurrent head and neck cancer
Treatments studied
Part of Cancer clinical trials.
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.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You have confirmed squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck that has come back locally/regionally, or a second new head-and-neck cancer in an area that was previously treated with radiation (>50% of the tumor volume had prior radiation >45 Gy).
- Your cancer can be removed with surgery done with curative (intended-to-cure) goal.
- At least 6 months have passed since your previous curative cancer treatment (surgery and/or radiation, with or without platinum chemotherapy or cetuximab).
- You can and are willing to have a biopsy before starting treatment and provide blood and biopsy tissue again at surgery (with limited exceptions if it’s not feasible).
- You are 18 or older and can have the treatment safely based on blood tests (including white blood cells, neutrophils, and platelets) and other organ/lung/cardiac health checks.
- You can use effective birth control if pregnancy is possible, and you agree not to donate sperm during the treatment period and for 180 days after the last dose (women: not pregnant or breastfeeding).
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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