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OncoMatch/Clinical Trials/NCT05420948

A Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Is NCT05420948 recruiting? Yes, currently enrolling (May 2026). This Phase 2 trial studies multiple treatments including Pembrolizumab and Carboplatin for head and neck cancer.

Phase 2RecruitingUniversity of ChicagoNCT05420948Data as of May 2026

Treatment: Pembrolizumab · Carboplatin · PaclitaxelBy doing this study, the research team would like to learn if using a blood test that measures the amount of tumor DNA in blood can help guide how to use chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy for individuals with head and neck cancer. Using this blood test, the research team hopes to learn if intermittent (occasional) chemotherapy added to immunotherapy will work better than immunotherapy alone. Participation in this research will last about two years.

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Extracted eligibility criteria

Cancer type

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Biomarker criteria

Required: PD-L1 (CD274) any tested (testing required; no eligibility threshold specified)

Performance status

ECOG 0–1(Restricted strenuous activity)

Prior therapy

No prior treatment (treatment-naive required)
Max 0 prior lines

Cannot have received: systemic therapy

Exception: Systemic therapy completed more than 3 months prior to signing consent if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease is allowed.

Participants should not have had prior systemic therapy administered in the recurrent or metastatic setting. Systemic therapy which was completed more than 3 months prior to signing consent if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease is allowed.

Cannot have received: anti-PD-1 therapy

Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD1(anti-programmed cell death protein1) therapy.

Lab requirements

Blood counts

Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined by clinical lab values.

Kidney function

Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined by clinical lab values.

Liver function

Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined by clinical lab values.

Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined by clinical lab values.

Structured fields extracted by AI. May contain errors — verify against the official protocol.

US trial sites

  • University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center · Chicago, Illinois

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