Plain-English translation of NCT05446467 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · 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.
This trial is testing a combination treatment called pembrolizumab paired with low-dose chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) for people with advanced head and neck cancer that hasn't spread to distant parts of the body. The goal is to give this medication combination before surgery to shrink the cancer and make surgery more effective. Researchers will then monitor how well this treatment works and how safe it is.
Currently, standard treatment for advanced head and neck cancer often involves surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation. This trial is exploring whether giving the medication combination before surgery—instead of after—could work better by shrinking tumors first and potentially improving survival rates.
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You would receive six cycles of the medication combination (pembrolizumab plus low-dose chemotherapy) over several months before having surgery to remove the cancer. After surgery, you would receive standard follow-up treatments (chemotherapy and/or radiation) as your doctor recommends, followed by maintenance therapy with the medication. Throughout the trial, you'll have regular doctor visits, blood tests, and imaging scans to monitor how the cancer responds and track any side effects.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 18, 2026 · Not medical advice
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