Intraoral Hypothermia Device for Preserving Taste During Radiation

NCT06579248 | Recruiting Early Phase 1 DMC

• 1 other identifier: 15529-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Radiation therapy to the head and neck region is known to cause taste dysfunction. Preliminary studies showed that cooling normal structures may lower damage caused by radiation. The purpose of this research study is to see if it is feasible to use an intraoral cooling device during radiation treatments to preserve or lower the decline of taste function.

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer; Taste Dysfunction; Radiation Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Dysgeusia

  Taste will be measured objectively using Burghart taste strips in five different concentrations of salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. Taste will be assessed on a yes/no scale to reflect the ability to correctly identify taste category. Taste will be measured subjectively with a series of previously-validated, patient-reported taste-related questions. The questions comprise of a modified Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS), one question from the Head and Neck Quality of Life questionnaire (HNQOL, question 2H) and one question from the University of Washington Head and Neck-specific Quality of Life questionnaire (UWQOL, question 9). The CiTAS uses a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning taste is normal and 5 being unable to taste. The HNQOL uses a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning taste is normal and 5 being unable to taste. The UWQOL uses a scale of 1-4, with 1 meaning taste is normal and 4 being unable to taste. Questionnaires are used together to quantify change in taste.

  6 months after RT completion

Study Arms (1)

Intraoral Hypothermia Device

EXPERIMENTAL

An intraoral hypothermia device will be used to cool the oral cavity while subject's receive radiation therapy.

Device: Intraoral Device

Interventions

Intraoral Device DEVICE

Device that circulates cooled water through the oral cavity.

Intraoral Hypothermia Device

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients being treated with combination radiation therapy and chemotherapy (definitive) for locally advanced (AJCC 8th cT3-4 or cN+) squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
• Age ≥ 18.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1.
• Patients will engage in the informed consent process and provide study-specific informed consent prior to study entry and must be able to fill out toxicity and quality of life related questionnaires.
• Patients should be concurrently treated with any of the following chemotherapy drugs: cisplatin, carboplatin, and cetuximab.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients receiving other forms of therapy intended to reduce taste dysfunction.
• Patients with metastatic disease.
• Patient with allergies or hypersensitivity to materials in the intraoral bolus.
• Patients who have received prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
• Patients who decline to use or cannot tolerate the intraoral device.
• Patients who are current or recent (within 3 months of treatment initiation) cigarette smokers.
• Patients who are unable to complete the required forms; however, verbal completion is adequate if recorded on the form daily.
• Patients with uncontrolled serious illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or serious active infection requiring IV antibiotics for over 30 days, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia other than chronic, stable atrial fibrillation, immunocompromised state, significant hepatic insufficiency, significant hematological disease, and any serious or unstable psychological condition.
• Patients who are on any of the following medication that cannot find a suitable substitute during the study period: acetazolamide, maribavir (TAK-620, Phase 3 trial drug), eszopiclone, topiramate, captopril, lithium, procainamide, terbinafine, and amiodarone.
• Patients who have taste loss at baseline, assessed subjectively and objectively at the first encounter, will be excluded from the study and all analysis. They will be replaced with a new patient.
• Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Henry Ford Health System: lead

Study Sites (1)

Henry Ford Health System

Detroit, Michigan, 48202-2689, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Head and Neck Neoplasms; Taste Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Marissa Gilbert, BSBME

CONTACT

313-556-8422; mgilber6@hfhs.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: early phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Staff Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2024
• First Posted: August 30, 2024
• Study Start: November 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)