Testing two cancer drugs together for advanced melanoma and head/neck cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT05136196 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether combining two medications — cabozantinib and — works better together to treat advanced melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in people whose cancer has not responded to previous immunotherapy. Researchers will also test tumor samples from participants to identify special markers that might predict which patients will benefit most from this treatment combination.

Some patients with advanced melanoma and head/neck cancer stop responding to standard immunotherapy treatments, and their cancer continues to grow. This study is exploring whether combining this medication with another drug that works differently might help patients whose cancer has become resistant to initial immunotherapy.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with stage III or IV melanoma that cannot be surgically removed, is recurring, or has spread, OR locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, or larynx)
your cancer has gotten worse during or within 12 weeks after your last dose of a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, and you received that treatment for at least 6 weeks
your cancer has measurable disease that can be tracked on imaging scans
if you have HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, your infection must be well-controlled with medication and/or show an undetectable viral load
you have recovered from side effects of any prior cancer treatments to baseline or mild levels

You likely don't qualify if…

you have had a heart attack or blood clot requiring anticoagulation within the past 90 days, unless your condition is now stable with medical management
you currently have an active infection requiring systemic antibiotics or antiviral treatment (other than controlled HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C)
you have received more than one prior radiation therapy regimen to the head and neck region
you have not fully recovered from side effects of previous cancer treatments, or your side effects are severe

What participation looks like

You will receive the medication as an intravenous infusion once every 28 days, plus a daily oral medication taken at home. Treatment continues for up to 2 years unless your cancer progresses or side effects become too difficult to manage. You will have regular CT or MRI scans to monitor your cancer, blood tests throughout the trial, and a tumor biopsy at the beginning and optionally during follow-up to help researchers understand which patients respond best to the treatment.

Testing two cancer drugs together for advanced melanoma and head/neck cancer

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(225 sites)