A Phase 2 interventional study of Pegsitacianine in Head and Neck Cancer, Unknown Primary Cancer and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-14.
Sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Diagnostic
This is a non-randomized, open-label, single-center, safety and imaging feasibility study of Pegsitacianine, an intraoperative fluorescence imaging agent.
This is a non-randomized, open-label, single-center, safety and imaging feasibility study of Pegsitacianine, an intraoperative fluorescence imaging agent.
The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether Pegsitacianine can be used to image head and neck cancers as well as unknown primary cancer of the head and neck 6-300 hours post dose in patients undergoing routine surgery for biopsy, evaluation, detection or removal of their primary cancer.
The study consists of two Parts.
2,018 studies on the registry are indexed under Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; 573 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 120 is above the median of 48 across 1,653 interventional studies indexed under Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck.
Browse Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck studies →University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 1,010 studies on the registry; 199 are open to participants now.
Of its 139 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 105 (76%) have results posted.
Compared within Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Head and Neck Neoplasms. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
-confirmed diagnosis, for primary or recurrent disease (or high clinical suspicion in the opinion of the Investigator)
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Biopsy and archival tissue
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Life expectancy
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Child-Pugh class
A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
In Part 1 the single dose of 1 mg/kg of pegsitacianine given 6-300 hours prior to surgery will be used to image primary tumors in patients with HNSCC to evaluated to verify the diagnostic performance of pegsitacianine fluorescence imaging for detecting primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes.
Drug: Pegsitacianine
In Part 2, pegsitacianine the single dose of 1 mg/kg of given 6-300 hours prior to surgery will be used to in patients with unknown primary cancer of the head and neck. These patients typically undergo exam under anesthesia with a laryngoscopy as well as panendoscopy for identifying the source of the metastatic cancer found in the cervical nodes. The diagnostic performance of pegsitacianine fluorescence imaging for detecting primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes in these patients will be evaluated. All the available data to date will be used to decide the additional tumor type(s), number of patients per tumor type, and number of Group(s) to be enrolled.
Drug: Pegsitacianine
Infusion of the Pegsitacianine-Intraoperative fluorescence imaging
Diagnostics performance and safety of 1 mg/kg Pegsitacianine in patients with HNSCC
Pegsitacianine fluorescence from in vivo and excised tissues will be imaged using intraoperative and post-operative NIR cameras and will be correlated with the histopathological confirmation of tumor and normal tissues to determine Pegsitacianine's diagnostic performance. Patient safety will be assessed for 10 days (±48 hours) post dose. All patients will be monitored for vital signs and physical examination pretreatment and at various time points up to Day 6 (±24 hours). All patients will be monitored for comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and complete blood count (CBC) with differentials pretreatment and at various time points up to Day 10 (±48 hours). All patients will be monitored for TEAEs, and concomitant medication use from the start of dosing up to Day 10 (±48 hours). TEAEs will be followed closely during the study to identify any potential DLTs
Time frame: 5 years
Diagnostics performance and safety of 1 mg/kg Pegsitacianine in patients with UPC
Pegsitacianine fluorescence from in vivo and excised tissues will be imaged using intraoperative and post-operative NIR cameras and will be correlated with the histopathological confirmation of tumor and normal tissues to determine Pegsitacianine's diagnostic performance. Patient safety will be assessed for 10 days (±48 hours). All patients will be monitored for vital signs and physical examination pretreatment and at various time points up to Day 6 (±48 hours). All patients will be monitored for comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and complete blood count (CBC) with differentials pretreatment and at various time points up to Day 10 (±48 hours). All patients will be monitored for TEAEs, and concomitant medication use from the start of dosing up to Day 10 (±48 hours). TEAEs will be followed closely during the study to identify any potential DLTs
Time frame: 5 years
Pegsitacianine fluorescence imaging in HNSCC, UPC primary cancers that are HPV positive and HPV negative
Pegsitacianine fluorescence from in vivo and excised tissues will be imaged using intraoperative and post-operative NIR cameras and will be correlated with the histopathological confirmation of tumor and normal tissues to determine Pegsitacianine's diagnostic performance. Assessment of use of Pegsitacianine for intra-operative imaging of HNSCC, UPC and metastatic lymph nodes will include quantification of intraoperative and postoperative fluorescence signals from histology confirmed tumor and normal tissues, calculation of TBR and diagnostic performance. Feasibility determination will be based on a combined assessment of intraoperative in vivo and ex vivo fluorescent signals together with ex vivo examinations (histological examination, NIR flatbed scanning).
Time frame: 5 years
Plan to share: No
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Studies of the drug tested here: Pegsitacianine
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck →
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center →