Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Study of Pembrolizumab Combined with Chemotherapy in the First Line Therapy for R/M HNSCC in China

A Prospective Study of Pembrolizumab Combined with Chemotherapy (cisplatin or Carboplatin + Albumin-bound Paclitaxel) in First-line Therapy for Patients with Recurrent and Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Study of Pembrolizumab Combined with Chemotherapy in the First Line Therapy for R/M HNSCC in China (NCT04857164) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by Yuankai Shi. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This trial is main evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of Chinese patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 150 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Voluntarily sign written willing to sign a consent form before screening; 2. Age 18\~75 years old; 3. ECOG physical status score 0-1 points; 4. Head squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosed by histology or cytology, the primary site is oral cavity, oral cavity Throat, lower throat or throat; 5. Recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC without indications for local radical treatment; 6. According to the evaluation criteria for the efficacy of solid tumors (RECIST version 1.1), there is at least one measurable lesion, right For lesions that have received radiotherapy in the past, only if there is clear disease progression 3 months after the end of radiotherapy, can it be Was selected as the target lesion; 7. There are a large number of tumor tissue samples for PD-L1 immunohistochemical detection; 8. The expected survival period exceeds 3 months; 9. The main organs function normally, that is, they meet the following standards: I. Blood routine (not receiving blood transfusion 14 months before screening examination, erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte set Fall stimulating factor (G-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) treatment): neutral Granulocyte ≥1.5×l09 - L, platelet count at least 100×109 - L, blood count (hemoglobin) at least 90g/L; ii. Liver function: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT and AST ≤ 3 for those without liver metastasis ×ULN, ALT and AST for liver metastases≤5×ULN; total bilirubin (TBIL)≤1.5×ULN (Gilbert Syndrome patients, ≤3×ULN); iii. Renal function: Serum creatinine (Cr)≤1.5×ULN or tendon clearance (Ccr)≥50ml/min (connect Residues treated with carboplatin) or ≥60ml/min (residuals treated with cisplatin); iv. Coagulation function: activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), international normalized ratio (INR), thrombin Original time (PT)≤1.5×ULN; v. Heart echocardiogram: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%; ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Voluntarily sign written informed consent before screening; 2. Age 18\~75 years old; 3. ECOG physical status score 0-1 points; 4. Head squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosed by histology or cytology, the primary site is oral cavity, oral cavity Throat, lower throat or throat; 5. Recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC without indications for local radical treatment; 6. According to the evaluation criteria for the efficacy of solid tumors (RECIST version 1.1), there is at least one measurable lesion, right For lesions that have received radiotherapy in the past, only if there is clear disease progression 3 months after the end of radiotherapy, can it be Was selected as the target lesion; 7. There are a large number of tumor tissue samples for PD-L1 immunohistochemical detection; 8. The expected survival period exceeds 3 months; 9. The main organs function normally, that is, they meet the following standards: I. Blood routine (not receiving blood transfusion 14 months before screening examination, erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte set Fall stimulating factor (G-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) treatment): neutral Granulocyte ≥1.5×l09 * L, platelets ≥100×109 * L, hemoglobin≥90g/L; ii. Liver function: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT and AST ≤ 3 for those without liver metastasis ×ULN, ALT and AST for liver metastases≤5×ULN; total bilirubin (TBIL)≤1.5×ULN (Gilbert Syndrome patients, ≤3×ULN); iii. Renal function: Serum creatinine (Cr)≤1.5×ULN or tendon clearance (Ccr)≥50ml/min (connect Residues treated with carboplatin) or ≥60ml/min (residuals treated with cisplatin); iv. Coagulation function: activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), international normalized ratio (INR), thrombin Original time (PT)≤1.5×ULN; v. Heart echocardiogram: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%; 10. Women should agree to use contraceptive measures (such as intrauterine birth control) during the study period and within 6 months after the study ends. Device \[IUD\], contraceptive pill or condom); 7 diabetes blood pregnancy test was negative before study enrollment, and it must be non-Breastfeeding patients; males should agree to use contraceptive measures during the study period and within 6 months after the end of the study period patient. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who are suitable for local treatment and are willing to local treatment; 2. Have received systemic chemotherapy, but does not include treatment for locally advanced disease as a part of multimodal treatment Chemotherapy (the end of this treatment must be more than 6 months after the first trial medication); Note: Multimodal therapy includes induction chemotherapy, concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. 3. Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma multimodal treatment is completed within 6 months of disease progression; 4. Have received anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137 or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies or targeting effects in the past Any other antibody or drug immunotherapy in T cell co-stimulation or immune checkpoint pathway; 5. Other malignant tumors have occurred within 5 years or at the same time during the current period, except for cured cervical carcinoma in situ, non- Skin cancer of melanoma or other tumors/cancers that have undergone radical treatment and have no signs of disease for at least 5 years; 6. Received cetuximab treatment within 6 months before the first administration; 7. According to the standard of common adverse event term (NCI CTCAEv5.0), peripheral neuropathy has been ≥2 grade; 8. With known active central nervous system metastasis (CNS) and/or cancerous meningitis: previous treatment Subjects with brain metastases treated for treatment can participate in the study, provided that they are clinically stable for at least 2 weeks and there are no new or enlarged brains. Evidence was transferred, and steroids were discontinued 14 days before study drug administration. The stable brain metastasis in this definition should be in Determine before the first administration of the study drug. Subjects with asymptomatic brain metastases (ie no neurological symptoms, no need Corticosteroids, and no lesions\> 1.5cm) can participate, but the brain needs to be regularly performed as a disease site Film degree exam; 9. Did not recover from any acute effects of previous surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, that is, did not fall to ≤1 grade (NCI CTCAEv5.0) subjects (except for hair loss). If the nutritional status is stable, allow previous radiotherapy and/or surgery Chronic late toxicity (pharyngeal/larynx toxicity, ie dry mouth, abnormal speech, swallowing, etc.); 10. Any component of the studied drug or preparation has caused severe allergic reactions, including known Severe allergic reaction to Longan antibody (NCI CTCAEv5.0≥3); 11. Have received anti-tumor drug treatment (such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immune Disease treatment, antibody treatment, radiotherapy, etc.), except for palliative radiotherapy for bones to relieve pain; 12. Chinese herbal medicine or Chinese patent medicine receiving anti-tumor treatment ≤1 week before the first administration; 13. Have received major surgery within 4 weeks before the first administration or are expected to undergo major surgery during the study period; 14. Immunosuppressive drugs need to be used 2 weeks before the first administration or within 2 weeks or during the study period. The following conditions are excluded: 1. Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroid or topical steroid injection (such as intra-articular injection); 2. Physiological dose of systemic corticosteroids (≤10mg/day prednisone or equivalent dose); 3. Short-term (≤7 days) use of steroids to prevent or treat non-autoimmune allergic diseases; 15. Subjects who are known to have active or have a history of autoimmune diseases that are likely to relapse (such as: Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune thyroid disease, multiple Sexual sclerosis, vasculitis, glomerulitis, etc.), or high risk (such as receiving an organ transplant and requiring immunotherapy) Of patients. However, the following patients are allowed to join the group: patients with type I diabetes who are in stable condition after using a fixed dose of insulin Those; autoimmune hypothyroidism requiring only hormone replacement therapy; no need for systemic therapy Skin diseases (such as eczema, skin rashes that account for less than 10% of the body surface, psoriasis without ophthalmological symptoms, etc.); 16. Subjects with known history of interstitial lung disease, history of non-infectious pneumonia, or high suspicion of interstitial lung disease Those who have previously had drug-induced or radiation non-infectious pneumonia but asymptomatic subjects are allowed to enter the group; 17. A history of human immunodeficiency virus infection (positive HIV test), or other acquired or congenital Immunodeficiency disease, or history of organ transplantation, or history of stem cell transplantation; 18. The hepatitis B or C virological examination at the time of screening meets any of the following: 1. HBsAg positive, and peripheral blood hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) titer ≥104 Copy number/ml or ≥2000 IU/ml; 2. HCV antibody is positive, and HCV-RNA is higher than the detection limit of the analysis method; 19. Within 2 weeks or 2 weeks before the first administration, the subject has an active infection that requires systemic treatment or is uncontrollable Infection (except for simple urinary tract infection or upper respiratory tract infection); 20. Live virus vaccine was vaccinated within 4 weeks before the first dose. Allows vaccination against seasonal influenza that does not contain live viruses seedling; 21. Serous effusions (such as pleural effusions and pleural effusions) with clinical symptoms that require clinical intervention or stable time less than 4 weeks ascites); 22. Known to be accompanied by serious medical diseases, such as heart function abnormalities of grade III and above (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\]), cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease (such as myocardial infarction or angina pectoris), or before the first administration 3 A history of myocardial infarction within months, and poorly controlled diabetes (fasting blood glucose ≥ 10mmol/L) or poorly controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥160mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥100mmHg); 23. Medical or psychiatric history or laboratory abnormal history that may interfere with the interpretation of results; 24. The subject is currently enrolled in other research equipment or research drug research, or is away from other research drugs Or the study device is out of use for less than or equal to 4 weeks; 25. The subject is known to be addicted to alcohol or drugs; 26. The researcher believes that the subjects have other conditions that may affect their compliance with the protocol and the evaluation of research indicators. Circumstances, subjects who are not suitable to participate in the study.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Pembrolizumab combined with Chemotherapy

Pembrolizumab (formerly lambrolizumab, brand name Keytruda) is a humanized antibody used in cancer Chemotherapy regimen is selected by the investigator immunotherapy. This includes to treat melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, and stomach cancer.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospitial,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04857164), the sponsor (Yuankai Shi), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT04857164 clinical trial studying?

This trial is main evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of Chinese patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT04857164?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT04857164?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT04857164. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04857164. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.