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NCT Number: NCT07448727

Impact of Early Response to First-line Anti-PD-1 Monotherapy in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT

This study aims to evaluate the role of early response assessment by 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with PD-L1 CPS >1 treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy, in accordance with routine clinical practice.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Tor Vergata University Hospital

Rome, Italy, 00133

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Vincenzo Formica, Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+390620908190

About this study

Eligible patients will receive two administrations of Pembrolizumab as monotherapy.

An 18F-FDG PET/CT scan will be performed at baseline (T0; no more than 30 days before the first drug administration) and after two cycles (T1, at 6 weeks).

Patients will be considered responders if they achieve a complete response (defined as complete resolution of FDG uptake within the target lesions) or a partial response (i.e., >=30% decrease in the target tumor FDG SULpeak).

After the first two administrations of Pembrolizumab, as well as in case of progressive disease (i.e., >=30% increase in the target tumor FDG SULpeak or advent of new 18FDG-avid lesions), any treatment modification will be determined by the physician according to routine clinical practice

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Histological diagnosis of recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC, not amenable for curative locoregional treatment (either surgery or radiotherapy), and amenable for first line systemic treatment
  • CPS PD-L1 >=1

Exclusion criteria

  • Any controindication to immune checkpoint inhibitors

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic changes at 6 weeks for response to pembrolizumab

    Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year

    To evaluate whether changes in metabolic activity on 18F-FDG PET/CT at 6 weeks predict response to pembrolizumab monotherapy at 3, 6, and 9 months in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Vincenzo Formica, Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+390620908190

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Rome Tor Vergata

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Prospective Observational Study On The Impact Of Early Response To First-line Anti-PD-1 Therapy In Patients With Recurrent And/Or Metastatic (R/M) Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Assessed By 18F-FDG PET/CT

Acronym: PEMBRO-PET

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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