Active — Not RecruitingPhase 1/2

Trial Combining Pembrolizumab and Cesium 131 Brachytherapy With Salvage Surgery in HNSCC

United States50 participantsStarted 2021-02-04

Plain-language summary

To Study Perioperative PD-1 Inhibitor and Cesium-131 Interstitial Brachytherapy in patients with locally recurrent HNSCC eligible for salvage surgery.

Who can participate

Age range

19 Years – 90 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * locally recurrent HNSCC and be eligible for salvage surgery * If patient received radiation therapy in the past, they should have recovered from the acute toxicity to \<grade 1 * tumor needs to be deemed resectable Exclusion Criteria: * Exposed carotid artery preoperatively requiring sacrifice or bypass intra-operatively * Patients with active pharyngo-cutaneous * Patients with more than one site of distant metastatic disease * Prior immune-based anticancer therapy within last six months

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Overall Safety measured by dose limiting toxicities (DLTs).

Timeframe: 2 years

Disease-free survival

Timeframe: 2 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04340258

SponsorUniversity of Cincinnati

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-06-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More HNSCC trials

Who can participate

Age range

19 Years – 90 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.