Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials

25 recruitingLast updated: June 18, 2026

There are 25 actively recruiting recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma clinical trials across 30 countries. Studies span Phase 2, Phase 1, Phase 3, Not Applicable, Phase 4. Top locations include Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov.


Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Trials at a Glance

25 actively recruiting trials for recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 30 countries. The largest study group is Phase 2 with 11 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in Atlanta, Boston, and Pittsburgh. Lead sponsors running recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma studies include National Cancer Institute (NCI), Emory University, and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Browse recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials by phase

Treatments under study

About Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials

Looking for clinical trials for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma? There are currently 21 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 Recurrent 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 Recurrent 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 25 trials

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 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
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

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

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 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 2

Testing Whether Cemiplimab (REGN2810) Plus CDX-1140 Given Prior to Surgery Are Better Than Cemiplimab (REGN2810) Alone in Patients With Stage III-IV Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage III Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8+19 more
National Cancer Institute (NCI)44 enrolled6 locationsNCT06980038
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 1Phase 2

Phase I/ II Trial Combining PD-1 Inhibition and Neoadjuvant Proton or Photon Radiation Therapy in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and Neck CancerRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
University of Cincinnati40 enrolled1 locationNCT07213934
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
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 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

Evaluating 111In Panitumumab for Nodal Staging in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center30 enrolled1 locationNCT05901545
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 3

Re-Radiochemotherapy and Pembrolizumab vs. Immuno(Chemo)Therapy for Locoregionally Recurrent PD-L1 Positive (CPS≥1) HNSCC

Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Universität des Saarlandes214 enrolled18 locationsNCT07026474
Recruiting

Establishment of a Microfluidic Based Liquid Biopsy Platform for Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers Prognostication Using NK Cell IFN-γ Expression and CTM Correlation With DS-SACA Chip

Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaHead and Neck Cancers- Squamous CellHead and Neck Cancer Metastatic
National Taiwan University Hospital30 enrolled1 locationNCT06678724
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