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ClinicalTrials.gov 89 recruiting now official registry

Head and Neck Cancer clinical trials

89 of 260 indexed Head and Neck Cancer trials are currently recruiting.

260 US clinical trials · 89 currently recruiting

Head and Neck Cancer is the subject of 260 registered US clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, 89 of them currently open to new participants. 13 are in Phase 3-4 (later-stage) and 137 in Phase 1-2 (earlier-stage). The most active sponsor is M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, running 19 of these trials.

The research picture

Head and Neck Cancer has 260 registered US clinical trials, 89 of them open to new participants right now, about 34% of the total.

89
recruiting participants now
34%
of trials open to enrollment
13
in Phase 3–4 (later-stage)
19
top sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Phase 163Phase 274Phase 311Phase 42

Active & Recent Trials

260 total, page 1 of 6

RECRUITING 9,600 participants

Sample Collection for Ongoing Research and Product Evaluation Study

Natera

NCT07318051

RECRUITING 8,000 participants

Tissue Sample Collection From Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and From Healthy Participants

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

NCT00898638

RECRUITING 7,000 participants

cfDNA Assay Prospective Observational Validation for Early Cancer Detection and Minimal Residual Disease

Adela

NCT05366881

RECRUITING 2,000 participants

Predicting Response to Immunotherapy From Analysis of Live Tumor Biopsies

Elephas

NCT07327489

RECRUITING NA 1,800 participants

Prospective Evaluation of Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy for Previously Irradiated Tumors

The New York Proton Center

NCT05313191

RECRUITING NA 1,400 participants

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosing Osteoradionecrosis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer That Is Primary, Has Come Back, or Has Spread to Other Places in the Body

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT03145077

RECRUITING 1,250 participants

Immunobiology Blood and Tissue Collection of Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

NCT05995821

RECRUITING NA 860 participants

The PhOCus Trial: Implementation of Pharmacogenomic Testing in Oncology Care

University of Chicago

NCT04541381

RECRUITING Phase 2 740 participants

A Study of HER3-DXd in Subjects With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

Daiichi Sankyo

NCT06172478

RECRUITING 700 participants

Biomarkers in Patients With Respiratory Tract Dysplasia or Lung Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, or Aerodigestive Tract Cancer and in Normal Volunteers

University of Colorado, Denver

NCT00900419

RECRUITING NA 532 participants

Multi-Site Trial of Navigation vs Treatment as Usual to Improve Initiation of Timely Adjuvant Therapy

Medical University of South Carolina

NCT05793151

RECRUITING 500 participants

Identification and Characterization of Novel Proteins and Genes in Head and Neck Cancer

Stanford University

NCT00230308

RECRUITING NA 480 participants

A Study Evaluating the Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@HOME) Program in People With Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT05053230

RECRUITING NA 352 participants

The SNAP Tool for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Dyads

Medical University of South Carolina

NCT05811936

RECRUITING NA 338 participants

Cognitive Outcomes After Brain Substructure-informed Radiation Planning in Pediatric Patients

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

NCT05658731

RECRUITING NA 320 participants

Improving Care for Rural Patients With Solid Tumors

University of Colorado, Denver

NCT04916990

RECRUITING Phase 1 310 participants

A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called PF-08046876 in People With Advanced Solid Tumors

Pfizer

NCT07090499

RECRUITING NA 300 participants

Comparing Two Ways to Manage Head and Neck Lymphedema

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

NCT05182229

RECRUITING NA 300 participants

Perioperative Nutritional Optimization in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

University of Illinois at Chicago

NCT04449445

RECRUITING NA 270 participants

Implementing the NYU Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (ePVA) for Head and Neck Cancer In Rural and Urban Populations

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

NCT06030011

RECRUITING NA 250 participants

Locally AblatiVe TherApy in OLigO-pRogressive SOlid TUmorS (VALOROUS)

University of California, Davis

NCT06103669

RECRUITING Phase 2 224 participants

Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss Among Individuals With Head and Neck Cancer

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

NCT04915183

RECRUITING 200 participants

New MRI Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancers

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT03483337

RECRUITING 200 participants

Identification of Secreted Markers for Tumor Hypoxia in Patients With Head and Neck or Lung Cancers

Stanford University

NCT00568490

RECRUITING NA 180 participants

Building a Renewed ImaGe After Head & Neck Cancer Treatment (BRIGHT) Multi-Site RCT

Medical University of South Carolina

NCT05442957

RECRUITING Phase 1 170 participants

A First in Human Study of ALX2004 With Advanced or Metastatic Selected Solid Tumors

ALX Oncology

NCT07085091

RECRUITING Phase 2 150 participants

ATATcH Alternating Treatment Plans for Advanced Cancer

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

NCT05358548

RECRUITING 150 participants

NLit and Outcomes in HNC Survivor-Caregiver Dyads

University of Kansas Medical Center

NCT07021885

RECRUITING Phase 1 150 participants

A Study of [225Ac]Ac-AKY-1189 in Patients With Solid Tumors

Aktis Oncology

NCT07020117

RECRUITING NA 150 participants

Photobiomodulation in Head and Neck Cancer-Related Chronic Lymphedema

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

NCT06837480

RECRUITING NA 150 participants

A Motion Exergaming Approach for Symptom Management: HNC

University of Alabama at Birmingham

NCT04632654

RECRUITING 140 participants

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of Oral Cancers in Vivo: a Preliminary Trial Comparing Intra-oral Imaging With Pathology

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT02507141

RECRUITING 125 participants

Fatigue and Molecular Mechanisms in Cancer Patients Receiving CCRT

University of California, San Francisco

NCT06633224

RECRUITING Phase 2 120 participants

A Phase 2a, Single-dose, Open-label Study to Evaluate Diagnostic Performance and Safety of Pegsitacianine, an Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging Agent for the Detection of Cancer, in Patients With Unknown Primary Head and Neck Cancer (ILLUMINATE STUDY)

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

NCT05576974

RECRUITING Phase 1 115 participants

Dose Escalation and Dose Expansion Study of MDX2001 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

ModeX Therapeutics, An OPKO Health Company

NCT06239194

RECRUITING Phase 1 112 participants

Lead-212 PSV359 Therapy for Patients With Solid Tumors

Perspective Therapeutics

NCT06710756

RECRUITING NA 111 participants

Study of De_Intensified Postoperative Radiation Therapy for HPV Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

NCT03875716

RECRUITING 101 participants

COPD Care Pathway Among Patients With Cancer

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

NCT05984680

RECRUITING 100 participants

Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) for Early Treatment Response Assessment of Solid Tumors

Washington University School of Medicine

NCT04354064

RECRUITING NA 100 participants

Evaluation of Radiobiological Effects in Skin Toxicities Head and Neck Cancer Patients With PBS Proton Therapy

Covenant Health Cancer Center

NCT06183268

RECRUITING 100 participants

DESTINY-PANTUMOUR04

AstraZeneca

NCT07124000

RECRUITING Phase 1 98 participants

TheraT® Vectors (Vaccines) Combined With Chemotherapy to Treat HPV16 Head and Neck Cancers

University of Chicago

NCT05108870

RECRUITING Phase 2 98 participants

Sparing Parotid Ducts Via MRI Sialography for Reduced Patient-Reported Xerostomia

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

NCT07278557

RECRUITING NA 90 participants

Axoguard HA Plus Nerve Protector to Reduce Post-operative Neck and Shoulder Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Neck Dissection

Matthew Spector

NCT07283861

RECRUITING Phase 2 90 participants

Preservation of Swallowing in Respected Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Examining Radiation Volume Effects (PRESERVE): A Randomized Trial

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

NCT03997643

RECRUITING NA 89 participants

Early Feeding After Oral Cavity Reconstruction

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

NCT04787939

RECRUITING NA 88 participants

Training Swallowing Initiation During Expiration

Northwestern University

NCT05278039

RECRUITING NA 86 participants

Jump: MR Simulation For Radiation Therapy Master Protocol

Brigham and Women's Hospital

NCT04545957

RECRUITING Phase 2 80 participants

Invert-Prospective Phase II Randomized Trial of Involved Nodal Versus Elective Neck RadioTherapy

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

NCT06477692

RECRUITING Phase 4 76 participants

Apixaban or Enoxaparin After Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

Kiranya Arnold

NCT07189897

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Phase Distribution

PhaseTrial count
Phase 1 63
Phase 2 74
Phase 3 11
Phase 4 2

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, National Library of Medicine. Data is informational only.

Reading the Head and Neck Cancer Trial Landscape

260 indexed Head and Neck Cancer studies · 89 recruiting (34%).

Phase mix: 13 late (III/IV) vs 137 early (I/II).

Top sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (19 trials), 9 others listed. 50 shown below, recruiting first.

How to read this condition's trial landscape

That ratio is a useful proxy for activity level: a high share of recruiting studies often signals that research interest is current and that new enrollment opportunities are appearing, while a low share typically means the field is dominated by completed or follow-up work where most participant spots have already been filled. These counts reflect the public registry only and include studies at every stage of design, so they should be read as an index of research attention rather than as a measure of treatment availability.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies focus on early safety signals, dosing, and preliminary effect, while Phase 3 studies are typically the larger efficacy and safety trials submitted toward regulatory review, and Phase 4 studies follow approved interventions in real-world use. A condition weighted toward later phases often reflects a mature research pipeline with several interventions already close to or past approval, whereas a heavier early-phase tilt suggests the field is still exploring new mechanisms and candidate approaches.

All figures are derived from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset maintained by the National Library of Medicine and are reproduced here for reference. Inclusion of a trial, sponsor, or intervention on this page is neither an endorsement nor a recommendation, eligibility, protocol changes, and site-level status can shift frequently, so always verify current details on ClinicalTrials.gov and consult a qualified healthcare provider before acting on anything you see here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many clinical trials are there for Head and Neck Cancer?

PlainTrial tracks 260 US clinical trials for Head and Neck Cancer, of which 89 are currently recruiting participants. Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.

How do I find a recruiting trial for Head and Neck Cancer?

Use the trial list above filtered by "Recruiting" status, or visit our trial finder at /recruiting to search by condition and state. Always discuss trial participation with your healthcare provider before enrolling.

Is this data current?

Data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and reflects our most recent data pull. Trial status may have changed since then. Always verify current information at ClinicalTrials.gov before making decisions about participation.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (National Library of Medicine). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH/NLM) ClinicalTrials.gov AACT registry · 2026 Trial counts and statuses sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Sponsor counts include both industry and federal/academic sponsors.

Verify with NIH →

Every figure on PlainTrial is rendered directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov registry, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates every registered trial for this condition, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.