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Recruiting Phase 2 NCT06978829

NCT06978829 Cetuximab + Tislelizumab + Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Unresectable LA HNSCC

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06978829
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Sponsor Daping Hospital and the Research Institute of Surgery of the Third Military Medical University
Condition LA HNSCC
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 42 participants
Start Date 2025-03-01
Primary Completion 2027-03-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
TP + Cetuximab + Tislelizumab

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

In Phase 2, researchers evaluate early signs of effectiveness. You may be randomized to receive the active treatment or a comparator. Monitoring continues closely.

This trial targets 42 participants in total. It began in 2025-03-01 with a primary completion date of 2027-03-31.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

This prospective, single-arm, Phase II study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and surgical conversion rate of Cetuximab combined with Tislelizumab and chemotherapy for unresectable LA HNSCC.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. The subject voluntarily participates, signs the Informed Consent Form (ICF), and is able to comply with the study procedures; 2. Patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by cytology or histology, for whom complete surgical resection is difficult; 3. No prior treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; 4. No prior treatment with cetuximab or PD-(L)1 inhibitors; 5. At least one measurable lesion according to RECIST v1.1; 6. No gender restriction, age ≥18; 7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of 0 or 1; 8. Expected survival period ≥ 3 months; 9. Organ function levels meet the following criteria: 1. Blood routine: Hemoglobin ≥90 g/L, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5×10\^9/L, platelets ≥90×10\^9/L; 2. Blood biochemistry: ALT, AST ≤2.5×ULN (≤5×ULN if liver metastasis is present), total serum bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN, serum creatinine ≤1.5×ULN, serum albumin ≥30 g/L; 3. Cardiac function: Left ventricular ejection fraction \>50% as shown by echocardiography. 10. Women of childbearing potential must have taken reliable contraceptive measures or undergone a pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days before enrollment, with a negative result, and be willing to use appropriate contraceptive methods during the trial and for 8 weeks after the last administration of the trial drug. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous anti-tumor treatments received (including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, etc.); 2. Known or suspected allergy to any component of cetuximab or PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibodies, as well as to the chemotherapeutic drugs paclitaxel and cisplatin; 3. Patients with hypertension that cannot be controlled to normal range with antihypertensive medications (systolic blood pressure \>140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \>90 mmHg), patients with coronary heart disease of grade II or above, grade II arrhythmia (including QTc interval prolongation \>470 ms), and grade I cardiac insufficiency; 4. History of autoimmune diseases or autoimmune disease history (such as colitis, hepatitis, hyperthyroidism, including but not limited to these diseases or syndromes), immunodeficiency history, including positive HIV test, or other acquired or congenital immunodeficiency diseases, or history of organ transplantation and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation; 5. Uncontrolled active hepatitis B (HBV DNA ≥ 1000 IU/mL) or active hepatitis C (positive hepatitis C antibody) patients; 6. Patients with active tuberculosis (with exposure history or positive tuberculosis test; accompanied by clinical and/or imaging manifestations); 7. Patients who have undergone major surgery within 4 weeks before the first dose or whose wounds have not fully healed; 8. Patients with a clear tendency to bleed; 9. Patients with severe complications such as pyloric obstruction, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal perforation, obstructive jaundice, severe malnutrition, etc.; 10. Patients who have experienced abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or abdominal abscess within 6 months before enrollment; 11. Imaging shows that the tumor has invaded important blood vessels or the investigator judges that the patient's tumor is highly likely to invade important blood vessels during treatment, leading to fatal massive bleeding; 12. History of interstitial lung disease, non-infectious pneumonia, or uncontrolled diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung disease, etc.; 13. Patients with active brain metastasis; 14. Patients with other malignant tumors within 5 years (except for completely cured cervical carcinoma in situ or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer); 15. Pregnant or breastfeeding women; 16. Patients with severe concomitant diseases that endanger patient safety or affect the completion of the study, as judged by the investigator, and those whom the investigator considers unsuitable for inclusion.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Juan Li

✉ lljuan1019@tmmu.edu.cn

📞 86+13883272120

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06978829 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying LA HNSCC. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT06978829 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether the treatment shows signs of effectiveness while continuing to monitor safety. More participants are enrolled than in Phase 1 to help refine the treatment protocol.

Is NCT06978829 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06978829 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at lljuan1019@tmmu.edu.cn for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06978829 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Chongqing, China.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06978829 clinical trial?

NCT06978829 is sponsored by Daping Hospital and the Research Institute of Surgery of the Third Military Medical University. The trial plans to enroll 42 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology