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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

Re-Radiochemotherapy and Pembrolizumab vs. Immuno(Chemo)Therapy for Locoregionally Recurrent PD-L1 Positive (CPS≥1) HNSCC

Randomized Phase III Trial of Sequential Re-Radiochemotherapy and Pembrolizumab Versus Immuno(Chemo)Therapy for Locoregionally Recurrent PD-L1 Positive HNSCC (CPS≥1)

Re-Radiochemotherapy and Pembrolizumab vs. Immuno(Chemo)Therapy for Locoregionally Recurrent PD-L1 Positive (CPS≥1) HNSCC (NCT07026474) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by Universität des Saarlandes. 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

Prospective, open-label, randomized controlled phase III trail that aims to investigate whether Re-Radiochemotherapy (Re-RCT) and sequential immunotherapy with pembrolizumab improves overall survival compared to the standard treatment with pembrolizumab alone (± chemotherapy) in locoregionally recurrent PD-L1 positive (CPS≥1) HNSCC.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory 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 214 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Recurrent 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: - Written willing to sign a consent form obtained from the subject prior to performing any protocol-related procedures. - Age ≥ 18 years at time of study entry. - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1 or 2. - Locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC. - Histological confirmation of HNSCC. - Tumor is surgically not resectable or surgical resection bears great potential for relevant functional morbidity or patient refuses surgery. - No distant metastases (cM0). - PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 according to local pathological PD-L1 assessment. A validated test must be used in an accredited laboratory. - Prior radio(chemo)therapy of the neck (time interval ≥ 6 months). - Adequate normal organ and marrow function as defined: Haemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL; Leukocytes (WBC) ≥ 3,000 per mm3or Neutrophils ≥ 1,500 per mm3; Platelet count \> 100,000 per mm3. - Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN). This will not apply to subjects with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome (persistent or recurrent hyperbilirubinemia that is predominantly unconjugated in the absence of haemolysis or hepatic pathology). - AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x institutional ULN. - kidney function (creatinine clearance) at least 40ml/min (calculated from serum creatinine using the Cockcroft-Gault formula). - Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of RT and/or the first dose of pembrolizumab. A highly sensitive pregnancy test must be used. - Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use a highly effective contraceptive measure (see also Section 7.1.9 Contraception and pregnancy testing during the trial). Highly effective contraception is required for the course of the trial through 120 days after the last dose of trial therapy. ...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: * Written informed consent obtained from the subject prior to performing any protocol-related procedures. * Age ≥ 18 years at time of study entry. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1 or 2. * Locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC. * Histological confirmation of HNSCC. * Tumor is surgically not resectable or surgical resection bears great potential for relevant functional morbidity or patient refuses surgery. * No distant metastases (cM0). * PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 according to local pathological PD-L1 assessment. A validated test must be used in an accredited laboratory. * Prior radio(chemo)therapy of the neck (time interval ≥ 6 months). * Adequate normal organ and marrow function as defined: Haemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL; Leukocytes (WBC) ≥ 3,000 per mm3or Neutrophils ≥ 1,500 per mm3; Platelet count \> 100,000 per mm3. * Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN). This will not apply to subjects with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome (persistent or recurrent hyperbilirubinemia that is predominantly unconjugated in the absence of haemolysis or hepatic pathology). * AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x institutional ULN. * Creatinine Clearance ≥ 40ml/min (calculated from serum creatinine using the Cockcroft-Gault formula). * Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of RT and/or the first dose of pembrolizumab. A highly sensitive pregnancy test must be used. * Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use a highly effective contraceptive measure (see also Section 7.1.9 Contraception and pregnancy testing during the trial). Highly effective contraception is required for the course of the trial through 120 days after the last dose of trial therapy. * Generative male subjects must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception (see also Section 7.1.9 Contraception and pregnancy testing during the trial), starting with the first dose of trial therapy through 120 days after the last dose of trial therapy. * Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the trial including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior radio(chemo)therapy of the neck less than 6 months ago. * Distant metastases (cM1). * Is currently participating and receiving trial therapy or has participated in a trial of an investigational agent and received trial therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment. * Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of trial treatment. The following are exceptions to this criterion: 1. Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injections (e.g., intra articular injection) 2. Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent 3. Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication). * Prior chemotherapy or targeted small molecule therapy within 2 weeks or anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to trial day 1 or who has not recovered from AEs due to a previously administered agent. (Subjects with ≤ grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the trial.) * History or concurrent other malignancy. Exceptions include patients, who have been disease free for at least 3 years. Further exceptions are completely resected basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or successfully treated in situ carcinoma. * Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. * History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis. * Has an active or chronic infection requiring systemic antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral therapy within 14 days prior to randomization or first dose of study drugs. * Known hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients. * History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator. * Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. * Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment. * Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies). * Active hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected). * Live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of trial therapy. * Performance status of \>2 on the ECOG Performance Scale. * Prior treatment with a PD-1/PD-L1 antibody in primary treatment of locally advanced HNSCC less than 6 months ago.

Treatments Being Tested

OTHER

radiotherapy

single doses of 1.8Gy up to a total dose of 55.8Gy to 63.0Gy

DRUG

Cisplatin

40mg/m² BSA weekly concomitant to re-irradiation

DRUG

Pembrolizumab

i.v., 200mg absolute, q3w

DRUG

cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil (5FU)

Cisplatin: 100mg/m² BSA d1, q3w / 5-FU: 1000mg/m² BSA d1-4, q3w

DRUG

Alternative medications: carboplatin + 5-fluorouracil (5FU)

Carboplatin: AUC5 d1, q3w / 5-FU: 1000mg/m² BSA d1-4, q3w

DRUG

Alternative medications: carboplatin

AUC2 weekly

DRUG

Pembrolizumab

i.v., 200mg absolute, q3w, starting within 8-14 days after completion of RCT

Locations (18)

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.

Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Klinik für Radioonkologie
Chemnitz, Germany
Klinikum Darmstadt GmbH, Institut für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie
Darmstadt, Germany
Gemeinschaftspraxis Hämatologie-Onkologie Dresden
Dresden, Germany
Uniklinikum Erlangen, Strahlenklinik
Erlangen, Germany
Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Onkologie
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
UKGM Gießen, Klinik für Strahlentherapie
Giessen, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Zentrum für Onkologie; II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik
Hamburg, Germany
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH), Klinik für Hämatologie, Hämostaseologie, Onkologie und Stammzelltransplantation
Hanover, Germany
Marien Hospital Herne, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radio-Onkologie
Herne, Germany
Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Homburg, Germany
Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Klinik und Poliklinik für Radioonkologie der Strahlentherapie
Mainz, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Münster, Klinik für Strahlentherapie - Radioonkologie
Münster, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie
Regensburg, Germany
CaritasKlinikum Saarbrücken St. Theresia, Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie
Saarbrücken, Germany
Klinikum St.-Elisabeth Straubing GmbH, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde
Straubing, Germany
Klinikum Stuttgart, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Stuttgart, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Klinik für Radioonkologie
Tübingen, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klinik für Hals- Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie
Ulm, Germany

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07026474), the sponsor (Universität des Saarlandes), 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 NCT07026474 clinical trial studying?

Prospective, open-label, randomized controlled phase III trail that aims to investigate whether Re-Radiochemotherapy (Re-RCT) and sequential immunotherapy with pembrolizumab improves overall survival compared to the standard treatment with pembrolizumab alone (± chemotherapy) in locoregionally recurrent PD-L1 positive (CPS≥1) HNSCC. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT07026474?

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 NCT07026474?

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 NCT07026474. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07026474. 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.