Study summary
For cancer that has spread or returned, first-line pembrolizumab more than doubled 5-year survival
16.0% vs 5.2%alive at 5 years, pembrolizumab-chemotherapy vs the older combination
What was tested
Pembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy, against the older cetuximab-chemotherapy combination, as first treatment for head and neck cancer that cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
What they found
- At 5 years, 16.0% on pembrolizumab-chemotherapy and 14.4% on pembrolizumab alone were alive, against about 5 to 6.5% on the older regimen.
- Time before the cancer grew was similar.
What it means
Confirms pembrolizumab as the standard first treatment for advanced disease.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team.
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