Head and Neck Clinical Trials

1 recruiting

Head and Neck Trials at a Glance

541 actively recruiting trials for head and neck are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 50 countries. The largest study group is Phase 2 with 177 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles. Lead sponsors running head and neck studies include Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, National Cancer Institute (NCI), and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Browse head and neck trials by phase

Treatments under study

About Head and Neck Clinical Trials

Looking for clinical trials for Head and Neck? There are currently 1 studies actively recruiting participants. Clinical trials offer access to new treatments before they are widely available, and every approved therapy in use today was first tested through a clinical trial.

Below you can browse trials, sign up for alerts when new Head and Neck trials open, and view eligibility criteria for each study. Each listing includes the study phase, locations, and enrollment details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Head and Neck clinical trials

A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or approaches in human volunteers. Every approved medication and treatment available today was proven safe and effective through clinical trials.

All clinical trials are reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) — independent committees that evaluate patient safety. Trials follow strict protocols, and your health is monitored closely throughout. You can withdraw at any time.

Not necessarily. Many trials compare the new treatment against the current standard of care, meaning all participants receive active treatment. When placebos are used, they are typically combined with standard treatment, not given alone. The trial description will always specify the design.

Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurers are required to cover routine patient care costs during a clinical trial. The sponsor typically covers the investigational treatment itself. Medicare also covers routine costs for qualifying trials.

Yes. Participation is completely voluntary. You can withdraw at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your access to standard medical care.

Each trial has specific eligibility criteria — including age, diagnosis, disease stage, prior treatments, and general health. Browse the trials listed above and check their eligibility sections. You can also contact the trial site directly to discuss your situation.

Showing 120 of 541 trials

Recruiting
Phase 2

BiCaZO: A Study Combining Two Immunotherapies (Cabozantinib and Nivolumab) to Treat Patients With Advanced Melanoma or Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer, an immunoMATCH Pilot Study

Clinical Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma+22 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)150 enrolled221 locationsNCT05136196
Recruiting
Phase 2

Testing What Happens When an Immunotherapy Drug (Pembrolizumab) is Given by Itself Compared to the Usual Treatment of Chemotherapy With Radiation After Surgery for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma+2 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)188 enrolled177 locationsNCT04671667
Recruiting

DESTINY-PANTUMOUR04

Liver CancerEsophageal CancerPancreatic Cancer+24 more
AstraZeneca100 enrolled17 locationsNCT07124000
Recruiting
Phase 2

Testing the Addition of Chemotherapy or Chemo-Immunotherapy to the Usual Surgery for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Clinical Stage III HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaLocally Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma+15 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)180 enrolled40 locationsNCT07195734
Recruiting
Phase 3

Testing the Addition of an Immunotherapy Drug, Cemiplimab (REGN2810), Plus Surgery to the Usual Surgery Alone for Treating Advanced Skin Cancer

Stage III Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8Stage IV Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8Eyelid Squamous Cell Carcinoma+17 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)420 enrolled206 locationsNCT06568172
Recruiting
Phase 1Phase 2

A Study to Assess IPN01194 When Administered Alone in Adults With Advanced Solid Tumours

MelanomaHead and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaPancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Ipsen220 enrolled12 locationsNCT06305247
Recruiting
Phase 3

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

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage IV Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma+18 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)158 enrolled176 locationsNCT06589804
Recruiting

Biospecimen Procurement for Head and Neck Disorders

Head and Neck NeoplasmsLaryngeal DiseaseHearing Disorder+2 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)1,000 enrolled9 locationsNCT03429036
Recruiting

Prospective Observational Study to Validate Circulating HPVDNA and Prognostic Genomic Biomarkers in HPV-associated OPSCC

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaCarcinoma, Squamous CellOropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma+1 more
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center220 enrolled3 locationsNCT04564989
Recruiting
Phase 1

A Phase 1, Dose-escalation Study of [225Ac]-FPI-2068 in Adult Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours

Gastric CancerAdvanced Solid TumorNon-small Cell Lung Cancer+4 more
AstraZeneca70 enrolled15 locationsNCT06147037
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Head & Neck Cancer Patients, Pilot Study

Head and Neck CancerSurvivorshipDysphagia+2 more
Vanessa Torrecillas20 enrolled1 locationNCT07264036
Recruiting

Nutritional Status of Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Head and Neck CancerRadiotherapyNutritional Status
Marmara University57 enrolled1 locationNCT07068711
Recruiting
Phase 2

Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) Alone or in Combination With Immunotherapy Vaccine PRGN-2009 in Subjects With Newly Diagnosed HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal (Head and Neck) Cancer

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and NeckDrug TherapyOropharynx+2 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)70 enrolled1 locationNCT06223568
Recruiting
Phase 1

A Study to Test Whether Treatment With BI 770371 in Combination With Pembrolizumab With or Without Cetuximab Helps People With Head and Neck Cancer Compared With Pembrolizumab Alone

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Boehringer Ingelheim90 enrolled52 locationsNCT06806852
Recruiting
Phase 1

[212Pb]VMT-Alpha-NET in Metastatic or Inoperable Somatostatin-Receptor Positive Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors, Pheochromocytoma/Paragangliomas, Small Cell Lung, Renal Cell, and Head and Neck Cancers

Kidney CancersHead and Neck TumorsSmall Cell Lung Cancers+3 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)120 enrolled1 locationNCT06479811
Recruiting
Phase 2

ATATcH Alternating Treatment Plans for Advanced Cancer

Lung CancerHead and Neck Cancer
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey150 enrolled11 locationsNCT05358548
Recruiting

An Integrative Multi-Omic Characterization of Head and Neck Carcinogenesis, Progression and Recurrence

Head and Neck Carcinoma
University of Southern California50 enrolled1 locationNCT06420219
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Reduction of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)
Sun Yat-sen University50 enrolled1 locationNCT06630780
Recruiting
Phase 2

Methotrexate, Erlotinib, and Celecoxib for the Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer in a Rural Midwest United States Population

Head and Neck CancerOropharynx CancerHypopharynx Cancer+3 more
Mayo Clinic25 enrolled1 locationNCT06997068
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Preventive Physical Activity Intervention in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck NeoplasmsPhysical Inactivity
Sahlgrenska University Hospital80 enrolled1 locationNCT05432297