Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials

224 recruitingLast updated: June 17, 2026

There are 224 actively recruiting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma clinical trials across 48 countries. Studies span Phase 2, Phase 1, Not Applicable, Phase 3, Early Phase 1, Phase 4. Top locations include Houston, Texas, United States, Los Angeles, California, United States, Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov.


Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Trials at a Glance

224 actively recruiting trials for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 48 countries. The largest study group is Phase 2 with 111 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in Houston, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Lead sponsors running head and neck squamous cell carcinoma studies include Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, National Cancer Institute (NCI), and West China Hospital.

Browse head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials by phase

Treatments under study

About Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials

Looking for clinical trials for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma? There are currently 150 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 Squamous Cell Carcinoma 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 Squamous Cell Carcinoma 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 224 trials

Recruiting
Phase 1

Study to Assess Adverse Events and Pharmacokinetics in Adult Participants With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Other Solid Tumors, Receiving Intravenous Infusion of Azirkitug Alone or in Combination(s) With Budigalimab, Bevacizumab, or Telisotuzumab Adizutecan

Triple-Negative Breast CancerPancreatic CancerNon-small Cell Lung Cancer+4 more
AbbVie694 enrolled46 locationsNCT05005403
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 enrolled70 locationsNCT07195734
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 enrolled177 locationsNCT06589804
Recruiting
Phase 4

Morning Versus Afternoon Administration of Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors, The Knight SHIFT Study

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Hepatocellular CarcinomaMetastatic Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma+18 more
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute160 enrolled1 locationNCT07405086
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 enrolled178 locationsNCT04671667
Recruiting
Phase 2

PD-L1 t-haNK, NAI IL-15sa and Cetuximab for Recurrent, Metastatic HNSCC

Head and Neck CancerHead and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma+3 more
Glenn J. Hanna25 enrolled2 locationsNCT06239220
Recruiting
Phase 1

Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, Camonsertib, to Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage III Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8Stage IV Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8+27 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)39 enrolled1 locationNCT07156227
Recruiting

A Longitudinal Multi-Omic Biomarker Profiling Study of Patients With Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Tempus AI500 enrolled30 locationsNCT06163534
Recruiting
Phase 1Phase 2

A Study to Investigate Safety of AZD6750 in Adult Participants With Select Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

Triple-Negative Breast CancerMelanomaNon-small Cell Lung Cancer+6 more
AstraZeneca60 enrolled13 locationsNCT07115043
Recruiting
Phase 1

A Study of NT-175 in Adult Subjects With Unresectable, Advanced, and/or Metastatic Solid Tumors That Are Positive for HLA-A*02:01 and the TP53 R175H Mutation

Breast CancerOvarian CancerColorectal Carcinoma+4 more
AstraZeneca45 enrolled18 locationsNCT05877599
Recruiting
Phase 1

Dose Determining Study of EXS74539 (REC-4539) in Participants With Select Solid Tumors

Gastric CancerHead and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)+9 more
Exscientia AI Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.40 enrolled3 locationsNCT07517198
Recruiting
Phase 4

Methylnatrexone In Resectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (MINK). A "Window of Opportunity" Pilot Study.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center25 enrolled1 locationNCT06162377
Recruiting
Phase 1

A Phase 1 Study of EPI-326 in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and HNSCC

Head and NeckHead and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)Head and Neck Cancer+12 more
EpiBiologics110 enrolled6 locationsNCT07462377
Recruiting
Phase 2

Comparison of In-Home Versus In-Clinic Administration of Subcutaneous Nivolumab Through Cancer CARE (Connected Access and Remote Expertise) Beyond Walls (CCBW) Program

Urothelial CarcinomaEsophageal CarcinomaHepatocellular Carcinoma+28 more
Mayo Clinic50 enrolled1 locationNCT06265285
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 enrolled222 locationsNCT05136196
Recruiting
Phase 3

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)

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Merus B.V.600 enrolled216 locationsNCT06496178
Recruiting
Phase 2

Study of Cetuximab Plus/Minus Weekly Paclitaxel After Progression To First-Line Pembrolizumab Plus Platinum-5FU in Subjects With Recurrent/Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Recurrent / Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Grupo Español de Tratamiento de Tumores de Cabeza y Cuello65 enrolled17 locationsNCT06856213
Recruiting
Not Applicable

A Study of the Use of Fat Flap Reconstruction to Reduce Neck Injury After Cancer Treatment

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center12 enrolled1 locationNCT05889091
Recruiting
Phase 3

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

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Merus B.V.700 enrolled205 locationsNCT06525220
Recruiting
Phase 1

IACS-6274 With or Without Bevacizumab and Paclitaxel for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors

Clinical Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8Stage IIIA Uterine Corpus Cancer AJCC v8+35 more
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center54 enrolled1 locationNCT05039801