Testing a personalized cancer vaccine for recurrent head and neck cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06868433 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated March 2026 · Translation generated August 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 trial is testing a new approach called TMV vaccine therapy for people with head and neck cancer that has come back or spread after standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The vaccine is personalized — it's made from your own tumor tissue collected during surgery — and is designed to train your immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells. You may receive the vaccine alone, or combined with , an immunotherapy medication that helps your immune system work better.

Most people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer have few good treatment options left after standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy fail. This trial is exploring whether a personalized vaccine can trigger a stronger immune response against the cancer and potentially help people live longer.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you have been diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has returned or spread after at least 2 prior treatment regimens
you had surgery to remove your tumor, and tumor tissue was saved and frozen for vaccine creation
you have adequate blood counts and organ function (your doctor will check these with blood tests)
you are able to attend regular study visits and follow the treatment schedule

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or unwilling to use contraception during and for 3 months after treatment
you have serious heart, liver, or kidney problems that make it unsafe to participate
you do not have enough frozen tumor tissue available to create at least 3 vaccine doses

What participation looks like

If you join this trial, you will receive the vaccine injected under your skin once every 2 weeks for up to 3 doses. You'll also have heart imaging tests (echocardiograms) at the start and end of treatment, regular blood draws to monitor your immune response, and imaging scans (CT, MRI, or PET) as needed. The study team will follow you over time to see how well the treatment works and watch for any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 5, 2026 · Not medical advice

Testing a personalized cancer vaccine for recurrent head and neck cancer

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(2 sites)