Not Yet RecruitingPhase 1/2

Ficerafusp Alfa, Pembrolizumab, and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

United States45 participantsStarted 2026-06-30

Plain-language summary

The study is an open-label phase I/II clinical trial. The study will enroll patients to receive neoadjuvant SBRT plus 1 or 2 doses of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab with concurrent ficerafusp alfa (4 doses) prior to definitive surgical resection for high-risk, locoregionally advanced HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Approximately 6 weeks after end of SBRT, patients will undergo standard of care (SOC) surgical resection followed by SOC adjuvant chemoradiation per National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Adjuvant therapy is not part of this study and therefore is not dictated by study protocol.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * Newly diagnosed histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, OPC HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) or HNSCC arising from oral cavity, larynx, or hypopharynx. * Baseline resectable disease per the judgment of the treating surgical oncologist. * Clinical stage III, IVA, or IVB disease as defined using the 8th (2017) edition of the tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC): * T1-2, N1-3 or * T3, any N or * T4, any N * Documented tumor PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 (by PD-L1 IHC pharmDx assay), determined locally. * Willing to provide blood and newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of tumor lesion pre-treatment and at the time of surgery for pathologic and correlative analyses. * Age 18 years or older at the time of informed consent. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 * Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below: * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 K/cumm * Platelets ≥ 100 K/cumm * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (without PRBC transfusion in the prior 7 days) * Total serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN (except for subjects with documented diagnosis of Gilbert syndrome). For subjects with a documented diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome, total bilirubin must be ≤ 3.0 × ULN, provided that direct bilirubin is within normal limits * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x IULN * Creatinine clearance (…

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

Phase I only: Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of SBRT in combination with pembrolizumab plus ficerafusp alfa

Timeframe: From start of treatment until date of surgery (total estimated time of 7 weeks)

Phase II only: Rate of pathologic complete response (pCR)

Timeframe: At the time of surgery (estimated to be week 7)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07552558

SponsorWashington University School of Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-08-31

Contact for this trial

Sana Karam, MD, PhD

314-362-9700 sanadkaram@wustl.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma trials