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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 2 of 6

RECRUITING NA 75 participants

Study of Non-invasive Acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Altens) to Help Alleviate Xerostomia After Radiation Therapy for Cancers of the Head and Neck

University of Rochester

NCT04805528

RECRUITING NA 75 participants

Postoperative Radiotherapy for Intermediate- and High-risk Patients With HNSCC Greater Than 6 Weeks After Surgery

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

NCT06607406

RECRUITING Phase 2 75 participants

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Programmed Cell Death Protein 1(PD-1) Inhibition for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment De-escalation (NeoScorch HN)

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

NCT07209189

RECRUITING Phase 2 70 participants

ChatBot and Activity Monitoring in Patients Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

NCT05318027

RECRUITING Phase 1 64 participants

Gabapentin & Ketamine for Prevention/Treatment of Acute/Chronic Pain in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Natalie Lockney

NCT05156060

RECRUITING Phase 2 61 participants

Selective Adjuvant Therapy for HPV-mediated Oropharynx SCCs Based on Residual Circulating Tumor DNA Levels (SAVAL)

University of Maryland, Baltimore

NCT06088381

RECRUITING NA 60 participants

Prehabilitation Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

University of Miami

NCT07318220

RECRUITING 60 participants

Microbiome in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

University of Colorado, Denver

NCT05837221

RECRUITING Phase 2 55 participants

Preoperative Immunotherapy in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Alain Algazi

NCT03708224

RECRUITING Phase 2 51 participants

Repurposing Riluzole for Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Trial

University of California, Irvine

NCT06580002

RECRUITING NA 50 participants

Intraoperative Ansa Cervicalis Nerve (ACN) Stimulation

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

NCT05650710

RECRUITING NA 44 participants

PromotinG Lung Cancer screenIng Awareness and Implementation in Hispanics/Latinx Head and Neck canceR Survivors

University of Miami

NCT06124508

RECRUITING Phase 1 41 participants

Intratumoral Delivery of Viral Replicon (saRNA) Particles Expressing IL-12 in Head and Neck Cancer

VLP Therapeutics

NCT06736379

RECRUITING Phase 1 40 participants

MEM-288 Oncolytic Virus Alone and in Combination With Standard of Care Therapy in Advanced Solid Tumors

Memgen

NCT05076760

RECRUITING Phase 1 40 participants

A Study of Cemiplimab With Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in People With Head and Neck Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT04722523

RECRUITING NA 40 participants

Tongue Proactive Strengthening Exercise Program Following Partial/Hemi Glossectomy and Reconstruction

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

NCT07110142

RECRUITING NA 40 participants

Pilot Study of Management of Facial Paralysis in the Oncologic Patient: Nerve Transfer Techniques to Improve Facial Function and Quality of Life

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT06667427

RECRUITING Phase 3 40 participants

Addressing Taste Dysfunction With Miraculin in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

University of California, San Francisco

NCT05273307

RECRUITING Phase 2 38 participants

Response-Adaptive Treatment in Untreated Locoregional HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer

University of Chicago

NCT07065630

RECRUITING Phase 1 37 participants

RAPA-201 Therapy of Solid Tumors

Rapa Therapeutics

NCT05144698

RECRUITING Phase 1 33 participants

Autologous CAR-T Cells Targeting CSPG4 in Relapsed/Refractory HNSCC

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

NCT06096038

RECRUITING Phase 1 33 participants

Phase I Study of Preconditioning Radiation Therapy With IL-15 Transduced TGFBR2 KO CAR.TROP2-engineered Cord Blood-derived NK Cells in Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer (RADIANCE-NK)

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT07101432

RECRUITING Phase 1 30 participants

Dosing Study of Radiation Combined With Tislelizumab and Pamiparib in Patients With Previously Treated Head and Neck Cancer

University of Chicago

NCT05526924

RECRUITING Phase 2 30 participants

A Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

University of Chicago

NCT05420948

RECRUITING NA 30 participants

Supporting Treatment Resilience With Optimized Nutrition and Guided Exercise in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation

Renown Health

NCT07160296

RECRUITING Early Phase 1 30 participants

Drug Screening Using Novel IMD in Salivary and Head and Neck Cancers

Brigham and Women's Hospital

NCT05553782

RECRUITING Phase 2 30 participants

Antibiotic Treatment Effects on Intratumoral Bacteria Modulation in Surgical Patients With Oral Cancer

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

NCT06627270

RECRUITING Phase 1 29 participants

NT219 Combined With Standard of Care Biologic Therapy in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

University of Colorado, Denver

NCT06919666

RECRUITING Phase 2 28 participants

Preoperative Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy in Resectable, Recurrent HNSCC

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

NCT05726370

RECRUITING Phase 2 25 participants

Phase II Panitumumab-IRDye800 in Head & Neck Cancer

University of Alabama at Birmingham

NCT04511078

RECRUITING Phase 2 25 participants

PD-L1 t-haNK, NAI IL-15sa and Cetuximab for Recurrent, Metastatic HNSCC

Glenn J. Hanna

NCT06239220

RECRUITING Phase 2 24 participants

Riluzole For Preventing Cognitive Dysfunction in Ca Pts Receiving Chemo (REFOCUS): Pilot Trial

University of California, Irvine

NCT07447050

RECRUITING NA 20 participants

Exercise and Nutritional Prehabilitation for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

University of California, Davis

NCT06722508

RECRUITING NA 20 participants

Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Head & Neck Cancer Patients, Pilot Study

Vanessa Torrecillas

NCT07264036

RECRUITING 20 participants

Novel Hypoxia Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer: Imaging Phenotype for Personalized Treatment

University of Utah

NCT06108089

RECRUITING Early Phase 1 15 participants

Intraoral Hypothermia Device for Preserving Taste During Radiation

Henry Ford Health System

NCT06579248

RECRUITING 13 participants

3D Specimen Maps for RT Planning

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

NCT05743569

RECRUITING Phase 2 12 participants

A Study of Decreasing Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy in People With Head and Neck Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT05544136

RECRUITING 10 participants

Ovarian-Sparing Adaptive Radiotherapy in Young Adult Women

Washington University School of Medicine

NCT06904365

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 1,150 participants

A Screening Study to Collect Samples for TAA, HLA & HLA Loss of Heterozygosity in Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors

TScan Therapeutics

NCT05812027

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 840 participants

A Basket Study of Customized Autologous TCR-T Cell Therapies in Patients With Locally Advanced (Unresectable) or Metastatic Solid Tumors

TScan Therapeutics

NCT05973487

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 3 702 participants

RT With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Surgery for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

NCT00956007

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 643 participants

Enhancing Self Care Among Oral Cancer Survivors: The Empowered Survival Trial

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

NCT04713449

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 575 participants

Observational Study of Dental Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

NCT02057510

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 3 435 participants

Controlled Trial Of Acupuncture To Prevent Radiation-Induced Xerostomia

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT01266044

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 427 participants

Sensor-Assisted Prevention of Dehydration in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT02253238

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 357 participants

Implementation and Effectiveness Trial of HN-STAR

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

NCT04208490

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 350 participants

Clinical Registry of Long-Term Dental Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

NCT05325970

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 330 participants

A Feasibility Study to Further the Development of Lung Cancer-based Precision Medicine

University of Arkansas

NCT02597738

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 300 participants

Supportive Oncology Care At Home RCT

Massachusetts General Hospital

NCT04544046

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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.