Study summary
Adding pembrolizumab before and after surgery kept head and neck cancer away longer
57.6% vs 46.4%free of cancer events at 3 years, with vs without pembrolizumab
What was tested
Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy, given for 2 doses before surgery and 15 after, added to standard surgery and radiation, in locally advanced head and neck squamous cancer, most often of the mouth.
What they found
- At 3 years, 57.6% of everyone given pembrolizumab and 46.4% of those not given it were free of recurrence, progression or death.
- The benefit was larger in tumors with more PD-L1 (59.8% vs 45.9%).
- Surgery was completed equally often in both groups, about 88%.
- Serious treatment side effects were similar: 44.6% vs 42.9%.
What it means
The first immunotherapy to improve outcomes when added to surgery for this cancer. Survival results are still to come.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team.
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