Medical Information Only. Consult your healthcare provider before considering clinical trial enrollment.

ClinicalTrials.gov 89 recruiting now early-phase tilt #39 of 28,707 conditions

Head and Neck Cancer: early-phase trial registry

89 of 260 indexed Head and Neck Cancer trials are currently recruiting, with more weight in Phase 1-2.

Corpus placement: #39 of 28,707 conditions by registered trial count.

260 US clinical trials · 89 currently recruiting · #39 of 28,707 conditions by registered trial count

Head and Neck Cancer: 260 US clinical trials tracked, 89 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.

Enrollment posture brief

Registry condition head-and-neck-cancer

OPEN 89 | RECR 34% | LATE 13 | EARLY 137 | RANK #39 | SPON 19

Nearest open-share peer: Recurrent Malignant Solid Neoplasm (34% recruiting · 38 trials)

Opioid Use Disorder60.5%Aging47.9%Post Traumatic Stress Disord41.5%Head and Neck Cancer (this)34%Melanoma33.1%
Open-enrollment share among volume-matched conditions near Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer lists 89 open slots (34% of 260 indexed trials). Peers are matched on registered volume, not therapeutic-area browse lists. How peer matching works →

Key findings

What ClinicalTrials.gov does not surface for Head and Neck Cancer on its own pages , computed from the registry mirror as of 2026-08-08. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.

  1. Head and Neck Cancer is recruiting below its size-band peers.

    89 of 260 indexed trials (34.2%) are open to enrollment, against a 37.1% average across 139 conditions with 100+ trials. The peer set uses the same ClinicalTrials.gov-derived counts as this page.

  2. Sponsorship of Head and Neck Cancer trials is spread across many organizations.

    M.D. Anderson Cancer Center accounts for 19 of 260 trials (7.3%). 124 distinct sponsors appear on at least one study for this condition label.

  3. Most Head and Neck Cancer trials plan to enrol fewer than 100 people.

    Median target enrolment is 53 among the 251 trials that report a genuine target (sentinel values excluded). 165 of those (65.7%) plan for fewer than 100 participants.

  4. Head and Neck Cancer research is mostly interventional.

    213 interventional and 47 observational studies make up this index (81.9% interventional). Study type is sponsor-reported on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Phase 163Phase 274Phase 311Phase 42

Open and recent trials

260 total, page 3 of 6

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 296 participants

Study of INBRX-106 and INBRX-106 in Combination With Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) in Subjects With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors (Hexavalent OX40 Agonist)

Inhibrx Biosciences

NCT04198766

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 288 participants

Study BT5528-100 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors Associated With EphA2 Expression

BicycleTx Limited

NCT04180371

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 272 participants

Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) Diffusion Weighted MRI (DW-MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) of Head and Neck Tumors

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT00581906

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 252 participants

Radiation Therapy With or Without Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors That Have Been Removed By Surgery

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

NCT01220583

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 236 participants

Dyadic Yoga Intervention for Patient With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy and Their Family Caregivers

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT03114501

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 189 participants

Evorpacept (ALX148) in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ASPEN-03)

ALX Oncology

NCT04675294

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 185 participants

Depression and Adherence in Head and Neck Cancer

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT00498875

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 176 participants

Study of Retinfanlimab in Combination With INCAGN02385 and INCAGN02390 as First-Line Treatment in Participants With PD-L1-Positive (CPS ≥ 1) Recurrent/Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Incyte Biosciences International Sàrl

NCT05287113

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 175 participants

Cough, Expiratory Training, and Chronic Aspiration After Head and Neck Radiotherapy

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT02662907

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 172 participants

Evorpacept (ALX148) in Combination With Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ASPEN-04)

ALX Oncology

NCT04675333

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 160 participants

A Study of Tislelizumab in Combination With Investigational Agents in Participants With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BeiGene

NCT05909904

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 153 participants

Study of EOS-448 With Standard of Care and/or Investigational Therapies in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors

iTeos Belgium

NCT05060432

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 138 participants

Alcohol Cessation Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Northwell Health

NCT05570851

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 3 135 participants

ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) Study in Recurrent Head/Neck Cancer for Patients Who Have Failed at Least Two Lines of Therapy

Rakuten Medical

NCT03769506

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 120 participants

ADP-A2M4CD8 as Monotherapy or in Combination With Either Nivolumab or Pembrolizumab in HLA-A2+ Subjects With MAGE-A4 Positive Tumors (SURPASS)

Uswm CT

NCT04044859

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 108 participants

Study of Proton Versus Photon Beam Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT02923570

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 100 participants

A Randomized, Double-Blind Phase II Study of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Versus Placebo in Head and Neck Cancers at High Risk for Recurrence- the PATHWay Study

University of Chicago

NCT02841748

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 100 participants

Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging & Blood Biomarkers for Head and Neck Cancer

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT03491176

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 98 participants

A Study of SNS-101 (Anti VISTA) Monotherapy and in Combination With Cemiplimab in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Sensei Biotherapeutics

NCT05864144

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 96 participants

Phase II Trial of Adjuvant Cisplatin and Radiation With Pembrolizumab in Resected Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Trisha Wise-Draper

NCT02641093

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 80 participants

Cisplatin + Radiation in SCCHN and Correlation With Oxidative Stress Markers

Susanne Arnold

NCT02994069

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 74 participants

Cisplatin, Nab-Paclitaxel, and Cetuximab (CACTUX) in Patients With Incurable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Washington University School of Medicine

NCT02270814

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 71 participants

MAGE-A4ᶜ¹º³²T for Multi-Tumor

Adaptimmune

NCT03132922

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 60 participants

PaRTNer: Patient Reported Outcomes and Financial Toxicity in Head and Neck Cancer A Pilot, Survey Based Study

Duke University

NCT03506451

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 3 58 participants

Tumescence in HNC Skin Graft Reconstruction

University of California, Davis

NCT04967391

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING 54 participants

A Study of Neurocognitive Tests and Questionnaires for People With Head and Neck Cancer Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

NCT05207098

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 52 participants

Selective Avoidance of Nodal VolumEs at Minimal Risk (GCC 20110)

University of Maryland, Baltimore

NCT04609280

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Early Phase 1 51 participants

Smoking Cessation Treatment for Head & Neck Cancer Patients

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT01098955

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 50 participants

OSI-774/Cisplatin/Taxotere in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT00076310

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 42 participants

Study of Xevinapant With Radiation and Chemotherapy for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

University of Chicago

NCT06110195

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 40 participants

Evaluation of Improved Onboard Patient Imaging

Varian, a Siemens Healthineers Company

NCT06187103

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 40 participants

A Prospective Imaging Study of the Integrated TrueBeam-HyperSight CBCT System

Varian, a Siemens Healthineers Company

NCT05975619

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 39 participants

Evaluating Safety and Biomarkers Using DK210 (EGFR) for Locally Advanced or Metastatic EGFR+ Tumors

DEKA Biosciences

NCT05704985

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 39 participants

Adjuvant Nivolumab After Salvage Resection in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Previously Treated With Definitive Therapy

Trisha Wise-Draper

NCT03355560

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 35 participants

Study of MEDI0562 Prior to Surgical Resection in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) or Melanoma

Providence Health & Services

NCT03336606

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 35 participants

Evaluating a Low-Cost Therapeutic Device in Managing Head and Neck Cancer Patients With Radiation-Related Trismus

University of California, San Francisco

NCT05671861

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 35 participants

Study for Participants Continuing From Pfizer-sponsored Palbociclib (a Study Medicine) Studies

Pfizer

NCT05226871

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING NA 32 participants

Using an End-of-life Conversation Game to Engage Patients With Cancer in Advance Care Planning: Phase 2

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

NCT06384417

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 30 participants

Window Study of Nivolumab With or Without Ipilimumab in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

NCT02919683

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 30 participants

"QUAD SHOT" Radiotherapy With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Recurrent Head & Neck Cancer

University of Oklahoma

NCT04373642

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 28 participants

Neoadjuvant Immunoradiotherapy in Head & Neck Cancer (NIRT 2-HNC)

Providence Health & Services

NCT04938609

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 25 participants

Phase 2 Trial of Adaptive Radiotherapy Boost for HNSCC

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

NCT06137274

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 24 participants

Safety and Efficacy of APG-157 in Head and Neck Cancer

Aveta Biomics

NCT05312710

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 23 participants

Study Transplanting Bone Marrow Cells Into Salivary Glands to Treat Dry Mouth Caused by Radiation Therapy

University of Wisconsin, Madison

NCT05820711

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 23 participants

Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Niraparib and Dostarlimab (TSR-042) in Recurrent/Metastatic HNSCC

Trisha Wise-Draper

NCT04313504

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 22 participants

Neoadjuvant Immunoradiotherapy in Head & Neck Cancer

Providence Health & Services

NCT03247712

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 2 18 participants

Targeting PD-1 Therapy Resistance With Focused High or High and Low Dose Radiation in SCCHN

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

NCT03085719

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 18 participants

Non-randomized, Open-label Study of Intralesional Nivolumab for High Risk Oral Premalignant Lesions

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

NCT05327270

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Early Phase 1 15 participants

Pilot Study of Imatinib Cetuximab Combo for H & N Cancer

University of Wisconsin, Madison

NCT05816785

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING Phase 1 14 participants

Testing the Safety of Giving a Standard Dose of Radiation Over a Shorter Period of Time for Patients Who Had Surgery for Intermediate-Risk Head and Neck Cancer

American College of Radiology

NCT05540899

← Previous Page 3 of 6 Next →

Phase Distribution

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

Named interventions

Most-linked intervention names on Head and Neck Cancer records (sponsor-reported on ClinicalTrials.gov). Counts are trial links, not unique products.

cisplatin Drug
14 trials
Cisplatin Drug
10 trials
Carboplatin Drug
10 trials
radiation therapy Radiation
9 trials
Pembrolizumab Drug
8 trials
paclitaxel Drug
6 trials
Paclitaxel Drug
6 trials
Nivolumab Drug
6 trials

US sites by state

Facility locations filed on Head and Neck Cancer trials. A trial with sites in several states counts in each.

California 58 trials
Texas 49 trials
New York 45 trials
Florida 38 trials
Pennsylvania 32 trials
Illinois 29 trials
Tennessee 28 trials
Massachusetts 27 trials

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

What to do with this Head and Neck Cancer page

260 registered trials, 89 currently recruiting, is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis or a recommendation.

Trial and recruiting counts reflect ClinicalTrials.gov registry status as of the data vintage above; individual trial eligibility and enrollment status can change.

Every figure on PlainTrial is rendered directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov registry, no number is typed in by an editor. This Head and Neck Cancer condition card totals 260 registered trials; most-linked intervention cisplatin; top US site state California. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error.