CancerDrs

Head and Neck Cancer clinical trials

300 actively recruiting head and neck cancer trials in the United States. Cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and salivary glands. HPV-driven and smoking-driven subtypes behave differently; trials often stratify on HPV status.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov · last refreshed · Head and Neck Cancer stats on SEER

52
Phase 1
116
Phase 2
15
Phase 3
4
Phase 4
113
Other

Head and Neck Cancer by the numbers (U.S.)

59,660
Estimated new cases (2025)
12,770
Estimated deaths (2025)
69.5%
5-year relative survival
65
Median age at diagnosis

Source: NCI SEER Cancer Stat Facts

Browse head and neck cancer trials by state

Top trials by phase + site coverage

Phase 3 Recruiting NIH

Testing the Addition of Anti-Cancer Drug, Cetuximab, to Standard of Care Treatment (Pembrolizumab) for Returning or Spreading Head and Neck Cancer After Previous Treatment

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding cetuximab to pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) a…

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NCT ID: NCT06589804
Locations:
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Fremont - Rideout Cancer Center — Marysville, California
  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System — Palo Alto, California

+ 196 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 2, Phase 3 Recruiting Academic/Other

Comparing Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) Biopsy With Standard Neck Dissection for Patients With Early-Stage Oral Cavity Cancer

This phase II/III trial studies how well sentinel lymph node biopsy works and compares sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery to standard neck dissection as part of the treatment for early-stage oral cavity cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy s…

Sponsor: NRG Oncology
NCT ID: NCT04333537
Locations:
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center — Birmingham, Alabama
  • Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center — Gilbert, Arizona
  • Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona — Phoenix, Arizona

+ 103 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

Sonesitatug Vedotin in Combination With Capecitabine With or Without Rilvegostomig in Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Expressing Claudin18.2

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sonesitatug vedotin in combination with capecitabine with or without rilvegostomig in first-line (1L) Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2)-positive, human epidermal growth factor recept…

Sponsor: AstraZeneca
NCT ID: NCT07431281
Locations:
  • Research Site — Mobile, Alabama
  • Research Site — Anchorage, Alaska
  • Research Site — Phoenix, Arizona

+ 80 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Academic/Other

Comparing Radiation Plus Cetuximab to Radiation Plus Chemotherapy in People With Head and Neck Cancer Who Cannot Receive Cisplatin

This phase III trial compares cetuxumab to chemotherapy, carboplatin and paclitaxel, with intensity modulated radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin. Cetuximab is in a …

Sponsor: NRG Oncology
NCT ID: NCT07441681
Locations:
  • Tower Cancer Research Foundation — Beverly Hills, California
  • USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center — Los Angeles, California
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, California

+ 60 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 2, Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

FORTIFI-HN01: A Study of Ficerafusp Alfa (BCA101) or Placebo in Combination With Pembrolizumab in First-Line PD-L1-pos, R or M HNSCC

Ficerafusp alfa is directed against two targets, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β). This study intends to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ficerafusp alfa in combination with pembrolizum…

Sponsor: Bicara Therapeutics
NCT ID: NCT06788990
Locations:
  • Site # 0137 — Birmingham, Alabama
  • Site #0147 — Phoenix, Arizona
  • Site #0107 — La Jolla, California

+ 47 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Study of Amivantamab in Addition to Standard of Care Agents (SOC) Compared With SOC Alone in Participants With Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare anti-tumor activity of amivantamab in addition to pembrolizumab and carboplatin versus pembrolizumab, 5-fluorouracil (FU), and platinum therapy (carboplatin or cisplatin) in participants with refract…

Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC
NCT ID: NCT07276399
Locations:
  • Ironwood Cancer and Research Center — Chandler, Arizona
  • University of Arizona Cancer Center — Tucson, Arizona
  • Providence St Jude Medical Center — Fullerton, California

+ 44 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Phase 3 Study to Evaluate Petosemtamab Plus Pembrolizumab vs Pembrolizumab in First-line Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer (LiGeR - HN1)

This is a Phase 3 randomized, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of petosemtamab plus pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab in first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic PD-L1+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Sponsor: Merus B.V.
NCT ID: NCT06525220
Locations:
  • Site 164 — Mobile, Alabama
  • Site 36 — La Jolla, California
  • Site 27 — Los Angeles, California

+ 34 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Study of Dostarlimab vs Placebo After Chemoradiation in Adult Participants With Locally Advanced Unresected Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The goal of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of Dostarlimab compared to Placebo in adult participants with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline
NCT ID: NCT06256588
Locations:
  • GSK Investigational Site — Jonesboro, Arkansas
  • GSK Investigational Site — Los Angeles, California
  • GSK Investigational Site — Solvang, California

+ 33 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab compared to placebo plus cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer. The primary hypothesis is …

Sponsor: AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
NCT ID: NCT06064877
Locations:
  • Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center — Gilbert, Arizona
  • The University of Arizona Cancer Center — Tucson, Arizona
  • University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California

+ 25 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

JNJ-90301900 (NBTXR3) Activated by Radiotherapy With or Without Cetuximab in LA-HNSCC

This is a global, open-label, randomized, 2-arm, Investigator's choice Phase 3 (Pivotal Stage) study to investigate the efficacy and safety of JNJ-90301900 (NBTXR3) / radiation therapy (RT)±cetuximab versus RT±cetuximab in treatment-naïve,…

Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc.
NCT ID: NCT04892173
Locations:
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, Alabama
  • City of Hope — Duarte, California
  • University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center — La Jolla, California

+ 23 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 2, Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Clinical Trial Investigating the Safety, Tolerability, and Therapeutic Effects of BNT113 in Combination With Pembrolizumab Versus Pembrolizumab Alone for Patients With a Form of Head and Neck Cancer Positive for Human Papilloma Virus 16 and Expressing the Protein PD-L1

An open-label, controlled, multi-site, interventional, 2-arm, Phase II/III trial of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab monotherapy as first line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ …

Sponsor: BioNTech SE
NCT ID: NCT04534205
Locations:
  • California Research Institute — Los Angeles, California
  • UCLA Cancer Care — Los Angeles, California
  • Stanford Cancer Institute — Palo Alto, California

+ 16 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Study of ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy in Combination With Pembrolizumab in First-line Treatment of Locoregional Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck With No Distant Metastases

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ASP-1929 photoimmunotherapy (PIT) in combination with pembrolizumab works to treat recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (HNSCC) with no distant metastases. It will also learn ab…

Sponsor: Rakuten Medical, Inc.
NCT ID: NCT06699212
Locations:
  • City of Hope — Duarte, California
  • University of Miami — Miami, Florida
  • Tampa General Hospital — Tampa, Florida

+ 5 more sites in the U.S.

Showing 12 of 300 trials. See all on ClinicalTrials.gov

Before you contact a trial site

Trial eligibility criteria are specific and strict. Reading them carefully before calling a site saves time. These guides walk through what to look for.

Medical disclaimer: Information on this page aggregates public ClinicalTrials.gov data. It is not medical advice. Always confirm eligibility and enrollment details with the trial site or your oncologist.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 · Last checked: 2026-09-07