Phase 3 Head and Neck Cancer Trial, Recruiting

Written by an AI model from the ClinicalTrials.gov eligibility criteria and checked on a sample basis. Please confirm against the original criteria.

Who might be able to join this trial:

• People diagnosed with stage IIIA to IVB head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (a type of head and neck cancer), confirmed by laboratory testing of tissue or cell samples
• People who have not previously received immunotherapy treatment
• People the research team believes can safely receive the study drug pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy or pre-treatment chemotherapy
• People aged 18 years or older
• People with a performance status rated 0–2 on the ECOG scale, meaning they are able to carry out at least some daily activities independently (confirm with trial site)
• People who have measurable areas of cancer that can be tracked during the study using standard imaging guidelines
• People whose major organs (such as liver, kidneys, and heart) are functioning at an acceptable level
• People of reproductive potential who agree to use appropriate contraception throughout the study and for 180 days after the last study treatment
• Male participants who agree not to donate sperm during the study and for 180 days after the last study treatment

Who may not be able to join:

• People whose cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (distant metastases)
• Female participants with a positive pregnancy test within 72 hours before starting the study, or within 24 hours of starting radiation therapy
• People who have received a live vaccine within 30 days before enrolling in the trial
• People diagnosed with an immune system deficiency, or who have been receiving steroid or other immune-suppressing treatments within 7 days before enrolling
• People who have cancer that has spread to the brain or the lining around the brain, even if there are no symptoms or it has been treated before
• People who have had surgery before starting the study and have not fully recovered from its effects or complications
• People who have previously received an organ or tissue transplant from another person
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction (grade 3 or higher) to the study drug pembrolizumab, radiation therapy, or certain chemotherapy drugs used in this trial, including platinum, paclitaxel, or 5-FU
• People who have had an active autoimmune disease (where the immune system attacks the body) requiring ongoing treatment within the past 2 years
• People with a history of inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia not caused by infection) that required steroid treatment
• People with a known history of HIV infection
• People with a history of hepatitis B infection, a positive test for the hepatitis B surface antigen, or active hepatitis C infection
• People with any other medical history, past treatments, or abnormal test results that the research team believes could affect the study results or the participant's wellbeing
• People with a known history of mental illness or substance use disorder

Important: Always verify eligibility with the trial site directly before applying.