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NCT05366166Active, not recruitingPhase 2

Pembrolizumab Plus Olaparib in LA-HNSCC

A Phase II Trial of Induction and Maintenance Pembrolizumab and Olaparib in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 28 Jan 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using a combination of pembrolizumab and olaparib when given before and after standard chemoradiation therapy in treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Pembrolizumab and olaparib are drugs that are approved for head and neck cancer treatment. However, FDA has not approved the use of these two drugs together in treating head and neck cancer.

Status (registry)
Active, not recruiting
Phase (registry)
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
45 (actual)
First submitted
4 May 2022
Start date
2 Sept 2022
Primary completion date
21 Jan 2027
Lead sponsor
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
NCT number
NCT05366166

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional · Phase 2
  • Participants enrolled: 45
  • From 2 Sept 2022 to the primary completion date, 21 Jan 2027
  • 4 sites in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Subjects with prior and concurrent malignancies of different tumor types whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the study drug are eligible with the following exception: Subjects with prior history of HNSCC treated \< 3 years to the date of consent.
  • Subjects unable to swallow orally administered medication prior to initiation of study treatment.

Other illness

  • Severe, active medical comorbidity. Subjects are considered a poor medical risk due to a serious, uncontrolled medical disorder, non-malignant systemic disease, or active, uncontrolled infection. Examples include, but are not limited to, uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia, recent (within 3 months) myocardial infarction, uncontrolled major seizure disorder, unstable spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, extensive interstitial bilateral lung disease on High Resolution Computed Tomography scan or any psychiatric disorder that prohibits obtaining informed consent.

Other

  • Cisplatin-ineligible as defined in the protocol.
  • Systemic glucocorticoids for any purpose other than to modulate symptoms from an event of clinical interest of suspected immunologic etiology

Who the study is looking for

  • In order to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined below.
  • Age \>18 years on the day of signing the consent
  • Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information.
  • Subject is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgment of the investigator or protocol designee. The subject must be willing to consent to a mandatory pre-study biopsy unless sufficient archival tissue is available.
  • Biopsy confirmed American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Edition35 stage III-IV B oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), p16-negative oropharyngeal SCC, stage III-IVB hypopharyngeal SCC, stage III-IVB laryngeal SCC -OR- HPV-associated oropharyngeal SCC (p16 positive or HPV-associated) T4 or N3 , T1-3 N2 or T3N0-1 with \>10 pack-year tobacco history
  • At least one lesion (measurable and/or non-measurable) that can be accurately assessed at baseline by imaging (CT/ PET) and is suitable for repeated assessment.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
  • No prior curative attempts for this cancer (i.e., surgery, radiation, systemic therapy) and not currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study intervention. No evidence of metastatic disease (M0)

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (4)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
UNC Lineberger
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Chapel HillUnited StatesUnknown status
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
CharlestonUnited StatesUnknown status
Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
IndianapolisUnited StatesUnknown status
University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
LouisvilleUnited StatesUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.