Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials

27 recruitingLast updated: June 17, 2026

There are 27 actively recruiting metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma clinical trials across 31 countries. Studies span Phase 2, Phase 1, Phase 3, Not Applicable, Phase 4. Top locations include St Louis, Missouri, United States, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov.


Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Trials at a Glance

27 actively recruiting trials for metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 31 countries. The largest study group is Phase 2 with 18 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in St Louis, Boston, and Jacksonville. Lead sponsors running metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma studies include Emory University, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Mayo Clinic.

Browse metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials by phase

Treatments under study

About Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials

Looking for clinical trials for Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma? There are currently 17 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 Metastatic 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 Metastatic 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 27 trials

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 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 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 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 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
Phase 2Phase 3

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

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Bicara Therapeutics650 enrolled173 locationsNCT06788990
Recruiting
Phase 1Phase 2

EGFR/HER2 Dual-Target CAR-NK Cells for Recurrent or Metastatic HNSCC

Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaBiomarker-positive EGFR/HER2- Expressing HNSCC
Beijing Biotech42 enrolled1 locationNCT07617805
Recruiting
Phase 1

(89Zr Panitumumab) With PET/CT for Diagnosing Metastases in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Eben Rosenthal60 enrolled1 locationNCT05747625
Recruiting
Phase 1

Study Evaluating [18F]NOTA-ABY030 for Safety and Tolerability of Indeterminate Primary and/or Metastatic Disease in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaSCC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma+1 more
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center25 enrolled1 locationNCT07217028
Recruiting
Phase 2

A Comprehensive Multiomic Biomarker Evaluation Across Two Single-arm Cohorts to Elucidate Mechanisms of Response and Resistance in Recurrent/Metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Recurrent / Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
University Health Network, Toronto30 enrolled1 locationNCT07408063
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Remote Audiometry to Monitor for Treatment-Related Hearing Loss in Patients With H&N SCC Receiving Cisplatin and/or Radiation

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck AJCC v8+30 more
Emory University118 enrolled1 locationNCT06662058
Recruiting
Phase 3

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

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.410 enrolled112 locationsNCT06064877
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Alpha Radiation Emitters Device (DaRT) in Combination With Check Point Inhibitor for the Treatment of Recurrent Unresectable or mHNSCC

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaSkin Cancer
Alpha Tau Medical LTD.48 enrolled3 locationsNCT05047094
Recruiting
Phase 2

Cetuximab After Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Wake Forest University Health Sciences38 enrolled1 locationNCT04375384
Recruiting
Phase 1Phase 2

Personalized Neoantigen Peptide-Based Vaccine in Combination With Pembrolizumab for Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors

Anatomic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8Anatomic Stage IV Breast Cancer AJCC v8Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma+97 more
Mayo Clinic132 enrolled1 locationNCT05269381
Recruiting
Phase 1

Losartan, Pembrolizumab and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Patients With Locally Recurrent, Refractory or Oligometastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRefractory Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaLocally Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
University of California, Davis24 enrolled2 locationsNCT06211335
Recruiting
Phase 1

TMV Vaccine Therapy Alone and With Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck AJCC v8Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma+20 more
Emory University40 enrolled2 locationsNCT06868433
Recruiting
Phase 2

Lovastatin and Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, LAPP Trial

Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaClinical Stage IV HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8+19 more
Emory University28 enrolled2 locationsNCT06636734
Recruiting
Phase 2

Pulsed Dose Chemotherapy Plus Pembrolizumab in Recurrent/Metastatic HNSCC

Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (R/M HNSCC)
Dan Zandberg15 enrolled1 locationNCT06052839