Recruiting

Testing a new drug combination for advanced head and neck cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06912087 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated December 2025 · 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 medication called , given by mouth daily, combined with two other cancer-fighting drugs ( and ) for people with head and neck cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body. The study is designed to figure out the safest and most effective dose of this three-drug combination. Researchers hope this combination will help shrink or control the cancer better than current treatments.

Head and neck cancers that return or spread to other areas of the body are very difficult to treat, and current options are limited. This trial is exploring whether the new treatment can work around the ways these cancers resist other therapies and help more patients live longer, healthier lives.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck that has come back or spread to other parts of your body
your cancer is in areas like the throat, mouth, voice box, or nasal passages (or the primary source is unknown)
you are at least 18 years old and in good enough overall health to tolerate this treatment
you have measurable disease that can be tracked on imaging scans
your blood counts and organ function (liver and kidneys) are within acceptable ranges
if your cancer started in the back of the throat, you have had HPV testing done

You likely don't qualify if…

you have previously received Zanzalintinib, cetuximab, or similar EGFR-inhibiting drugs
you have had more than two rounds of systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy for your recurrent or metastatic cancer
you have cancer that has spread to your brain and has not been stable for at least four weeks
you are currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to use effective birth control during and after the study
you have an active infection requiring antibiotics or other serious medical conditions that would make participation unsafe

What participation looks like

You will take the new medication by mouth every day for 42-day cycles (about 6 weeks per cycle), while also receiving two other cancer drugs on specific days within each cycle. The study starts by testing lower doses and gradually increases them as safety is confirmed. You will have regular visits to the clinic for blood tests, imaging scans, and check-ins with your doctor to monitor how you're tolerating the treatment and how your cancer is responding.

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

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois