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

60
Phase 1
106
Phase 2
15
Phase 3
6
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 2, Phase 3 Recruiting NIH

Testing Docetaxel-Cetuximab or the Addition of an Immunotherapy Drug, Atezolizumab, to the Usual Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer

This phase II/III trial studies how well radiation therapy works when given together with cisplatin, docetaxel, cetuximab, and/or atezolizumab after surgery in treating patients with high-risk stage III-IV head and neck cancer the begins i…

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NCT ID: NCT01810913
Locations:
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center — Birmingham, Alabama
  • The Kirklin Clinic at Acton Road — Birmingham, Alabama
  • Banner University Medical Center - Tucson — Tucson, Arizona

+ 335 more sites in the U.S.

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

+ 174 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

A Phase 3 Study to Evaluate Petosemtamab Compared With Investigator's Choice Monotherapy in Previously Treated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients (LiGeR-HN2)

This is a phase 3 open-label, randomized, controlled, multicenter study to compare petosemtamab vs investigator's choice monotherapy in HNSCC patients for the second- and third-line treatment of incurable metastatic/recurrent disease.

Sponsor: Merus B.V.
NCT ID: NCT06496178
Locations:
  • Site 160 — Mobile, Alabama
  • Site 102 — Prescott, Arizona
  • Site 125 — Scottsdale, Arizona

+ 58 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

+ 42 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 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

Using 18F-FAPI PET to Detect Metastatic Disease in Patients That Have Gastric or Esophageal Cancer.

This is a multi-site, open-label, non-randomized, single dose study to assess the clinical utility of \[¹⁸F\]FAPI-74 PET/CT in the detection of metastatic disease in individuals with pathologically confirmed gastric, gastroesophageal junct…

Sponsor: SOFIE
NCT ID: NCT07217704
Locations:
  • Helios CR Inc./RadNet — Cerritos, California
  • City of Hope National Cancer Center — Duarte, California
  • Hoag Memorial Hospital — Irvine, California

+ 12 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Study of Ifinatamab Deruxtecan in Subjects With Pretreated Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) (IDeate-Esophageal01)

This study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) in patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who have experienced disease progression following tre…

Sponsor: Daiichi Sankyo
NCT ID: NCT06644781
Locations:
  • Providence Medical Foundation — Fullerton, California
  • Henry Ford Health System — Detroit, Michigan
  • Baptist Cancer Center — Memphis, Tennessee

+ 3 more sites in the U.S.

Phase 2, Phase 3 Recruiting Industry

A Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of PRV111, PRV211, and PRV131 in Subjects With Oral and Lung Cancers

Arm 1 ( Phase 2/3 Run in ): PRV111: Topical Locoregional Delivery Placed Over the Tumor Region Primary Endpoint: Overall Response Rate (ORR) Primary Objective: Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of PRV111 in patients with Carcinoma in Sit…

Sponsor: Privo Technologies
NCT ID: NCT05893888
Locations:
  • City of Hope National Medical Center — Duarte, California
  • Miami Cancer Institute — Miami, Florida
  • The University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois

+ 1 more site 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: 2026-07-07