NCT02270814 (CACTUX) is a Phase 2 clinical trial of nab-paclitaxel in Head and Neck Cancer, sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine.

Who is sponsoring NCT02270814?

NCT02270814 is sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine.

What drugs are being tested in NCT02270814?

Interventions in NCT02270814: nab-paclitaxel, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Cetuximab.

What condition does NCT02270814 study?

NCT02270814 studies Head and Neck Cancer, Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Cancer of the Head and Neck.

Is NCT02270814 still recruiting?

NCT02270814 is currently active, enrolled. Last updated 30 December 2025.

Last reviewed 2025-12-30 · How we verify

NCT02270814: CACTUX

Name: Drug Landscape Pharmaceutical Database
Creator: Drug Landscape
Published: 2026-01-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cisplatin, Nab-Paclitaxel, and Cetuximab (CACTUX) in Patients With Incurable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Active, enrolled Phase 2 Last updated 30 December 2025

What this trial tests

Phase 2 trial testing nab-paclitaxel in Head and Neck Cancer in 74 participants. Participants enrolled and being followed up; not accepting new ones.

Timeline

2 February 2015

Primary endpoint
30 June 2026

30 June 2026

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Washington University School of Medicine
Phase	Phase 2
Status	Active, enrolled
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	74
Start date	2 February 2015
Primary completion	30 June 2026
Estimated completion	30 June 2026
Sites	5 locations across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

nab-paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) — full drug profile →
Cisplatin (cisplatin) — full drug profile →
Carboplatin (Carboplatin) — full drug profile →
Cetuximab (cetuximab) — full drug profile →

Conditions studied

Head and Neck Cancer — all drugs for Head and Neck Cancer →
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma — all drugs for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma →
Cancer of the Head and Neck — all drugs for Cancer of the Head and Neck →

Sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Head and Neck Cancer or Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

The purpose of this research study is to look at the effect of a treatment regimen called CACTUX on head and neck cancer. The CACTUX regimen is a combination of three drugs called cisplatin, nab-paclitaxel, and cetuximab (although carboplatin may be given in place of cisplatin if participants have previously had problems receiving cisplatin). The use of nab-paclitaxel in this combination is different from routine care, in which a drug called 5FU is often given instead, but the investigators group has conducted previous research where the investigators incorporated nab-paclitaxel into routine treatment with cisplatin, 5FU, and cetuximab. The investigators are looking at the incidence of side effects with the CACTUX regimen as well as response of the disease and health status.

Publications & conference data

7 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

Cetuximab-Containing Combinations in Locally Advanced and Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Taberna M, Oliva M, Mesía R. · · 2019 · cited 84× · PMID 31165040 · DOI 10.3389/fonc.2019.00383
The Evolving Role of Taxanes in Combination With Cetuximab for the Treatment of Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Evidence, Advantages, and Future Directions.
Guigay J, Tahara M, Licitra L, Keilholz U, et al · · 2019 · cited 30× · PMID 31497530 · DOI 10.3389/fonc.2019.00668
Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel with cetuximab and carboplatin as first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer: A single-arm, multicenter, phase 2 trial.
Adkins D, Ley J, Atiq O, Powell S, et al · · 2021 · cited 21× · PMID 33548860 · DOI 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105173
Advances in nanomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancers: A review.
Yu C, Li L, Wang S, Xu Y, et al · · 2023 · cited 19× · PMID 37056270 · DOI 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.08.010
Pharmacological impact of microRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Prevailing insights on molecular pathways, diagnosis, and nanomedicine treatment.
Bhattacharjee B, Syeda AF, Rynjah D, Hussain SM, et al · · 2023 · cited 17× · PMID 37205904 · DOI 10.3389/fphar.2023.1174330
Taxanes in the Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Hsieh CY, Lin CC, Chang WC. · · 2023 · cited 8× · PMID 38001888 · DOI 10.3390/biomedicines11112887
Exploring the Therapeutic Implications of Co-Targeting the EGFR and Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Pathways in Oral Cancer.
Calheiros-Lobo M, Silva JPN, Pinto B, Monteiro L, et al · · 2024 · cited 2× · PMID 39339232 · DOI 10.3390/pharmaceutics16091196

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of nab-paclitaxel

Trials testing the same drug.

NCT07018063 — Neoadjuvant Nab-Paclitaxel Plus Oxaliplatin, S-1, and Sintilimab in Early-Onset Resectable Gastric Cancer · Phase 2 · not yet recruiting
NCT05562297 — Neoadjuvant/Adjuvant Sintilimab, Nab-paclitaxel, and Gemcitabine for Resectable/Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer · Phase 2 · not yet recruiting
NCT06528093 — A Study to Find a Suitable Dose of BI 765883 and to Test Whether it Helps People With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer When Ta · Phase 1 · terminated
NCT06445062 — Study of RAS(ON) Inhibitors in Patients With Gastrointestinal Solid Tumors · Phase 1, PHASE2 · recruiting
NCT06390059 — EF-39 PANOVA-4: Study of Tumor Treating Fields Concomitant With Atezolizumab, Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel as First-Li · Phase 2 · active not recruiting

Other recruiting trials for Head and Neck Cancer

Currently open trials in the same condition.

NCT07318220 — Prehabilitation Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients · NA · recruiting
NCT07524114 — Study of High-Precision Evaluation of Molecular ResiduaL Disease Through a PlatfOrm for Cancer TracKing and Interception · recruiting
NCT07467083 — Development and Application of a Nurse-Led Preemptive Symptom Management Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Unde · Phase 3 · recruiting
NCT07209189 — Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Programmed Cell Death Protein 1(PD-1) Inhibition for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment De-esca · Phase 2 · recruiting
NCT06837480 — Photobiomodulation in Head and Neck Cancer-Related Chronic Lymphedema · NA · recruiting

Other Washington University School of Medicine trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

NCT05521997 — Glutaminase Inhibition and Chemoradiation in Advanced Cervical Cancer · Phase 2 · not yet recruiting
NCT07101666 — Total Neoadjuvant Therapy With Short Course Radiation Therapy in Gastric Cancer · Phase 2 · not yet recruiting
NCT07200089 — Recombinant Human IL-7 (NT-I7) in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Following BCMA CAR-T Therapy (Cilta-cel) · Phase 1 · not yet recruiting
NCT07313592 — Whole Genome Sequencing (ChromoSeq®) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Patients · not yet recruiting
NCT07419464 — 5-Fluorouracil Response and Optimization STudy (The FROST Trial) · Phase 2 · not yet recruiting

Verify against primary sources

ClinicalTrials.gov — authoritative US registry record
WHO ICTRP — international registry index
EU Clinical Trials Register
Sponsor press releases (Google)

Data sources for this page

Trial protocol + status: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02270814 (US National Library of Medicine, public domain)
Publications: Europe PMC API search by NCT ID, retrieved 10 June 2026
Drug + disease cross-links: matched in real time against Drug Landscape's normalised drug + company + condition tables
Sponsor: as reported to ClinicalTrials.gov by Washington University School of Medicine
Last refreshed: 30 December 2025

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT02270814.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing