Recruiting

Testing a tiny implant to find the best cancer drug for you

Plain-English translation of NCT05553782 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated January 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.

What is this trial?

This is an early-stage pilot study testing a brand-new tiny implantable device—about the size of a needle tip—that doctors place directly into your tumor. The device releases multiple anti-cancer drugs in very small amounts to see which ones your cancer responds to best. The device stays in your tumor for 3–5 days and is then removed during your planned cancer surgery.

Right now, doctors choose cancer drugs based on general guidelines, but every person's cancer is different. This study aims to find a faster, more personalized way to test which drugs will work best for your specific tumor before you start treatment, potentially leading to better outcomes.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer (salivary gland, adenoid cystic carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma) without spread to other parts of your body
you are at least 18 years old and in good enough health to have both the device placement and cancer surgery
your tumor is at least 1 centimeter in size and can be seen on imaging scans
your blood clotting tests are normal and you don't have a bleeding disorder that would make procedures unsafe
you are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study

You likely don't qualify if…

you are currently taking other experimental drugs or treatments
you have an untreated infection, heart problems, or other serious medical conditions that would make surgery unsafe
you have a known bleeding or clotting disorder that puts you at high risk during procedures
you are pregnant or may be pregnant
you are unable to understand or sign the informed consent form

What participation looks like

A doctor will place the tiny implant directly into your tumor using imaging guidance. You'll wait 3–5 days, and then the device will be removed during your planned cancer surgery. After surgery, you'll receive standard follow-up cancer treatment as recommended by your doctors. The removed device will be studied to show which drugs your cancer responded to best.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 13, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

United States

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts