Mouth and tongue cancers are mostly treated with surgery, often followed by radiation. Immunotherapy given around surgery improved outcomes in a large 2025 trial. Other research is about sparing healthy tissue and speech and swallowing.
- 126studies open or running
- 9of them in phase 3
- 957papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Immunotherapy around surgery helpsHappened 57.6% vs 46.4% cancer-free events at 3 years
Pembrolizumab before and after surgery cut recurrences in locally advanced head and neck cancer, mostly mouth cancer.
57.6% vs 46.4%: free of cancer events at 3 years, with vs without pembrolizumab.
Pembrolizumab first for advanced cancerHappened 16.0% vs 5.2% alive at 5 years
Five-year results confirm it more than doubles long-term survival compared with the older combination.
16.0% vs 5.2%: alive at 5 years, pembrolizumab-chemotherapy vs the older combination.
Cetuximab after surgery: modest gainHappened 71.7% vs 63.6% disease-free at 5 years
It delayed recurrence after surgery in HPV-negative cancers, without a clear survival gain.
71.7% vs 63.6%: free of disease at 5 years, with vs without cetuximab.
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6 months
by May 2027
Cabozantinib plus nivolumab reportPossible
A 150-person NCI trial in advanced head and neck cancer is due January 2027.
A radiation-protecting drugPossible
BMX-001 is tested to reduce mouth sores and other damage from radiation. Due January 2027.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
Induction chemotherapy before surgeryPossible
An Indian trial of 346 people compares surgery first with chemotherapy first. Due October 2027.
Saving swallowing after surgeryPossible
A Canadian trial tests aiming radiation only at operated areas to protect swallowing.
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3 years
by late 2029
Survival results for immunotherapy around surgeryPossible 57.6% vs 46.4% cancer-free events at 3 years
Longer KEYNOTE-689 follow-up will show whether fewer recurrences mean longer lives.
57.6% vs 46.4%: free of cancer events at 3 years, with vs without pembrolizumab.
Smaller neck operationsLong shot
A 686-person trial compares sentinel lymph node biopsy with full neck dissection for early mouth cancer. It finishes in 2031.
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5 years
by late 2031
The research paths
Immunotherapy earlier in treatment
57.6% vs 46.4% cancer-free events at 3 yearsDetails and 3 trialsHide
Pembrolizumab now works around surgery as well as in advanced disease. Trials test other immunotherapy combinations before surgery.
WatchSurvival data from KEYNOTE-689.
Doing less to protect function
Details and 3 trialsHide
Smaller neck operations and targeted radiation aim to keep speech, swallowing and appearance without losing cure rates.
WatchThe sentinel node trial.
Better radiation
71.7% vs 63.6% disease-free at 5 yearsDetails and 3 trialsHide
Drugs added to radiation after surgery, protective drugs, and proton therapy.
WatchProtons vs X-rays after surgery.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Breast cancer
Sacituzumab govitecan
Phase 2
An antibody that carries chemotherapy into cells, tested with cetuximab in head and neck cancer.
From Kidney and thyroid cancer
Cabozantinib
Phase 2
A targeted pill tested with nivolumab.
Open to join now
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Early mouth cancer
Sentinel node vs neck dissection
Locations and eligibility → -
Intermediate-risk cancer
Cetuximab with standard care after surgery
Locations and eligibility → -
Cannot take cisplatin
Radiation plus cetuximab vs chemo
Locations and eligibility → -
Advanced head and neck cancer
Cabozantinib plus nivolumab
Locations and eligibility → -
Resectable head and neck cancer
Immunotherapy before surgery
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting mouth cancer trial →
When the large trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Care A new approach to pain relief in oral cancerUniversity of Virginia · NIH Funded through Aug 2029 News likely 2028–2029
- Risk How alcohol drives mouth and throat cancersUniversity of North Carolina · NIH Funded through Jul 2030 News likely 2028–2030
- Care Augmented reality to guide tumor removalVanderbilt · NIH Funded through Jul 2029 News likely 2028–2029
What just happened
Pembrolizumab around surgery cut recurrences
KEYNOTE-689: 57.6% vs 46.4% event-free at 3 years.
Five-year survival confirmed for pembrolizumab
KEYNOTE-048 in advanced disease.
Standard treatment today
- EarlySurgery to remove the tumor and, often, neck lymph nodes.
- Locally advancedSurgery then radiation, with cisplatin for high-risk features; pembrolizumab around surgery is a newer option for PD-L1-positive tumors.
- Spread or returnedPembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy.
- RecoverySpeech and swallowing therapy, dental care, and reconstruction.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Most trials combine mouth, throat and voice-box cancers; mouth cancer made up the largest share in the surgery trials.
- Completion dates are what each trial registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See mouth cancer trials recruiting now →