Triple therapy shrinks tumours in hard-to-treat head and neck cancers, trial shows

Early-stage results suggest 77% response rate in HPV-unrelated disease, prompting move to global Phase III trial

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Illustration: Triple therapy shrinks tumours in hard-to-treat head and neck cancers, trial shows

An international clinical trial has found that a three-drug combination therapy shrank tumours in 77 per cent of patients with HPV-unrelated head and neck cancers, more than double the current standard of care. The results, which will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in Madrid, have spurred researchers to advance the regimen to a global Phase III trial, offering new hope for patients with aggressive, difficult-to-treat disease.

The trial, conducted in part by the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, investigated the addition of the synthetic antibody amivantamab to the existing combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. Amivantamab targets two proteins, EGFR and MET, to halt tumour growth and mobilise the immune system.

Earlier phases of the trial had shown tumour shrinkage in 42 per cent of patients treated with amivantamab alone and 56 per cent with amivantamab plus pembrolizumab. The latest phase, which included 29 patients, tested all three drugs together. Among the 22 patients with head and neck cancers not linked to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), tumours shrank in 77 per cent, compared with 36 per cent for the current first-line treatment of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy. Three patients showed no detectable cancer. The disease stabilised in four patients and progressed in one. At the time of analysis, 11 of the 17 patients who responded continued to see their tumours shrink or remain stable.

Holly Stubbs, a 29-year-old mother of three from County Durham, was diagnosed with incurable tongue cancer after her disease returned following surgery and radiotherapy. She began the triple-combination therapy in July. “Scans have already shown a 60 per cent reduction in my cancer and the intense pain I was previously experiencing disappeared within the first few weeks of starting treatment,” Stubbs said. “When I thought there was nothing else that could be done, the trial gave me hope.”

Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the results suggest that treating the biology of the tumour, rather than the disease as a single entity, can improve outcomes. “In this case, that means hitting the EGFR and MET signals that HPV-unrelated tumours rely on, while also helping the immune system attack the cancer,” he said.

Professor Kevin Harrington, professor of biological cancer therapies at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and consultant clinical oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, noted that the strongest activity was observed in patients with HPV-unrelated disease, “who typically have poorer outcomes and fewer effective treatment options”. He added that the decision to move to a Phase III trial reflects confidence in the results and provides an important opportunity to determine whether the regimen can improve outcomes for patients.

The researchers cautioned that the numbers remain small and that the Phase III trial will be the real test, but described the approach as a rational, biology-driven drug combination with the potential to transform outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat cancers.

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Tumour shrinkage rates in head and neck cancer trial, by treatment regimen

† Triple therapy result is for HPV-unrelated patients; other results may include mixed HPV status. Source: Institute of Cancer Research, London / Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust trial

Analysis

Why This Matters

The triple therapy more than doubles the response rate compared to the current standard of care for HPV-unrelated head and neck cancers, a group with limited treatment options and poorer prognosis.
If confirmed in larger trials, the regimen could become a new first-line treatment, changing clinical practice for thousands of patients globally each year.
The biology-driven approach, targeting specific proteins while boosting the immune system, illustrates a broader shift toward personalised cancer therapy.

Background

Head and neck cancers account for hundreds of thousands of cases worldwide each year. In the UK, HPV is linked to about 12 per cent of tongue, tonsil and roof-of-the-mouth cancers and 50–70 per cent of oropharyngeal cancers. However, HPV-related and HPV-unrelated tumours behave very differently, yet have historically been treated with the same protocols. The new therapy aims to exploit the specific vulnerabilities of HPV-unnegative tumours by blocking the EGFR and MET signalling pathways while simultaneously enhancing immune attack.

What to Watch

The launch and results of the global Phase III trial, which will test the triple therapy in a larger, more diverse patient population.
Whether regulatory bodies such as the FDA and MHRA grant accelerated approval if Phase III data confirm the early efficacy and safety.
How quickly the regimen can be integrated into clinical guidelines and made available to patients outside trial settings.

Sources

Trial shows new treatment could shrink tumours for those with complex and aggressive cancers · The Independent UK

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says triple therapy shrinks tumours in hard-to-treat head and neck cancers.The Independent UK: “A trial has shown a new triple therapy may help to shrink tumours in patients with difficult-to-treat and aggressive cancers.”
Partly supportedThe summary describes a 77% response rate in HPV-unrelated disease as an early-stage result.The Independent UK: “Among the 22 patients with HPV-unrelated cancer, tumours shrank in 77 per cent.”
SupportedThe regimen is moving to a global Phase III trial.The Independent UK: “Following the findings, which will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in Madrid, researchers will take the trial to Phase III.”
Partly supportedThe 77% tumour-shrinkage result was more than double the current standard of care.The Independent UK: “This is more than double the current first-line treatment of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, which shrank tumours in 36 per cent of patients.”
SupportedThe results will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in Madrid.The Independent UK: “Following the findings, which will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in Madrid, researchers will take the trial to Phase III.”
SupportedThe latest phase tested amivantamab with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in 29 patients; tumours shrank in 77% of the 22 patients with HPV-unrelated cancer.The Independent UK: “The latest phase tested amivantamab in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, with 29 patients included in the analysis. Among the 22 patients with HPV-unrelated cancer, tumours shrank in 77 per cent.”
SupportedEarlier trial results showed tumour shrinkage in 42% with amivantamab alone and 56% with amivantamab plus pembrolizumab.The Independent UK: “The trial had previously shown that tumours shrank in 42 per cent of patients treated with amivantamab alone and 56 per cent with amivantamab plus pembrolizumab.”
SupportedHolly Stubbs said scans showed a 60% reduction in her cancer and that her intense pain disappeared within the first few weeks of treatment.The Independent UK: ““Scans have already shown a 60 per cent reduction in my cancer and the intense pain I was previously experiencing disappeared within the first few weeks of starting treatment,” Ms Stubbs said.”
Partly supportedKristian Helin said the results suggest treating tumour biology rather than treating the disease as a single entity can improve outcomes.The Independent UK: “Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “These results suggest we can do better by treating the biology.””
SupportedHelin said the approach means targeting EGFR and MET signals while helping the immune system attack the cancer.The Independent UK: ““In this case, that means hitting the EGFR and MET signals that HPV-unrelated tumours rely on, while also helping the immune system attack the cancer.””
SupportedHarrington said the strongest activity was seen in HPV-unrelated disease, whose patients typically have poorer outcomes and fewer effective options.The Independent UK: ““These findings are particularly encouraging because the strongest activity was seen in patients with HPV-unrelated disease, who typically have poorer outcomes and fewer effective treatment options than patients with HPV-related cancers.””
Partly supportedThe researchers cautioned that the numbers remain small and described the combination as rational and biology-driven.The Independent UK: “Prof Helin said: “The numbers are still small, and the Phase III trial will be the real test. But this is the kind of rational, biology-driven drug combination that we believe will transform outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat cancers.””

Correction

25 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the results had been presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026 in Madrid. The source says they will be presented there.