Where oropharyngeal cancer treatment is heading
Oropharyngeal cancer · Updated Nov 14, 2026
About 20,000 people in the US are diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer (tonsils and base of tongue) each year, and most cases are now caused by HPV. HPV-positive cancers are highly curable with radiation and chemotherapy or transoral robotic surgery, but survivors often live for decades with swallowing, dry-mouth and other side effects. Research focuses on giving less treatment safely, using HPV DNA blood tests, and adding immunotherapy for higher-risk and advanced disease.
- 223studies open or running
- 24phase 3 trials
- 685papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Standard chemoradiation is hard to beatHappened 98% progression-free at 2 yrs
In NRG-HN005, standard treatment kept 98% progression-free at 2 years; lower-dose arms fell short.
98%: progression-free at 2 years with standard chemoradiation.
Gentler radiation after surgeryHappened 3% severe long-term effects
A 2-week course after surgery cut severe long-term side effects to 3% vs 11%.
3%: severe long-term side effects, vs 11% with standard treatment.
Protons work as well, but are not clearly gentlerHappened 81.3% progression-free at 5 yrs
US trial: 81.3% vs 76.2% progression-free at 5 years; UK trial: similar quality of life at 1 year.
81.3%: progression-free at 5 years with protons, vs 76.2% with photons.
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6 months
by May 2027
Treatment escalation for higher-risk diseasePossible
The UK CompARE trial (785 people) tests intensified treatment for intermediate- and high-risk patients; due December 2026.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
Blood tests in follow-upPossible 96% specificity
SURVEILLE-HPV (420 people) tests whether HPV16 DNA blood tests detect recurrence earlier; due April 2028, with interim data sooner.
96%: specificity for detecting recurrence.
Antibody-drug conjugate for advanced diseasePossible
Corbus' TEMPO-1 (260 people) compares CRB-701 with standard choices after earlier treatment; due December 2027.
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3 years
by late 2029
Less treatment after surgeryPossible 3% severe effects (DART)
The UK PATHOS trial (1,269 people) tests reduced radiation and dropping chemotherapy after surgery; due October 2027.
3%: severe long-term side effects, vs 11% with standard treatment.
Immunotherapy combination for advanced HPV+ diseaseLong shot
Inhibrx's HexAgon-HN (450 people) adds ordastobart to pembrolizumab; due December 2029.
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5 years
by late 2031
Immunotherapy after chemoradiation for high riskPossible
EA3161 (636 people) tests a year of nivolumab after chemoradiation; due January 2030.
Sparing the other side of the neckLong shot
The Canadian SELECT trial (510 people) uses imaging to avoid unnecessary radiation; due August 2030.
The research paths
Safer de-escalation
3% severe long-term effectsDetails and 3 trialsHide
Less radiation or chemotherapy for well-selected HPV-positive patients.
WatchPATHOS; SELECT.
- Less treatment after surgery (PATHOS)Cardiff University (Lisette Nixon) · 1,269 people · fully enrolled Oct 2027
- SPECT-CT-guided neck radiation (SELECT)Canadian Cancer Trials Group · 510 people · enrolling Aug 2030
- Treatment escalation for higher-risk disease (CompARE)University of Birmingham · 785 people · fully enrolled Dec 2026
HPV DNA blood tests
96% specificityDetails and 1 trialsHide
Blood tests to monitor for recurrence and guide treatment.
WatchSURVEILLE-HPV.
Immunotherapy and new drugs
Details and 3 trialsHide
Checkpoint inhibitors after chemoradiation and new drugs for advanced disease.
WatchEA3161; HexAgon-HN; TEMPO-1.
- Nivolumab maintenance vs observation after chemoradiation (EA3161)National Cancer Institute · 636 people · fully enrolled Jan 2030
- Ordastobart added to pembrolizumab, advanced HPV+ (HexAgon-HN)Inhibrx · 450 people · enrolling Dec 2029
- CRB-701 (Nectin-4 ADC) vs investigator choice (TEMPO-1)Corbus Pharmaceuticals · 260 people · enrolling Dec 2027
Proton therapy
81.3% progression-free at 5 yrsDetailsHide
As effective as standard radiation; side-effect benefits are less clear.
WatchLong-term swallowing results.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Bladder cancer
CRB-701 (Nectin-4 ADC)
Phase 3
Targets the same protein as enfortumab vedotin, approved for bladder cancer.
From Melanoma and lung cancer
Nivolumab
Phase 3
A PD-1 immunotherapy tested as maintenance after chemoradiation.
Open to join now
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Recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer
CRB-701
Locations and eligibility → -
Advanced HPV-positive
Ordastobart plus pembrolizumab
Locations and eligibility → -
Lateralized oropharyngeal cancer
SPECT-CT-guided neck radiation
Locations and eligibility → -
After treatment
HPV16 ctDNA monitoring
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Oropharyngeal cancer trial →
When the 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
What just happened
Protons not clearly gentler at 1 year
TORPEdO, The Lancet.
Protons match photons for cancer control
The Lancet.
Shorter radiation after surgery cuts side effects
DART, Lancet Oncology.
Standard treatment today
- Early HPV-positiveTransoral robotic surgery or radiation, often alone.
- Locally advanced HPV-positiveRadiation (70 Gy) with cisplatin, or surgery then radiation.
- HPV-negative or smokersTreated like other head and neck cancers; pembrolizumab around surgery for some.
- Recurrent or metastaticPembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy; clinical trials.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers behave very differently; most results here apply to HPV-positive disease.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Oropharyngeal cancer trials recruiting now →