Oral Cryotherapy to Decrease Taste Changes in Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Taxane Chemotherapy

NCT07218718 | Recruiting DMC

• 3 other identifiers: 24904NCI-2025-07271P30CA033572
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This clinical trial studies whether cooling the mouth with popsicles (oral cryotherapy) decreases taste changes in prostate cancer patients receiving taxane chemotherapy. Patients receiving chemotherapy can experience a variety of side effects. Changes in the taste of food is a frequent complaint of patients receiving chemotherapy and is underreported as patients may think that it is unavoidable and not manageable. Taxane-based chemotherapy is thought to be associated with the most taste changes of any chemotherapy. Taste buds contain a specific type of cell, called gustatory cells, that are located on the surface of the tongue, the soft palate (back, muscular part of the roof of the mouth), and the upper part of the esophagus. These cells consist of five basic tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami (or savory). Oral cryotherapy involves cooling the mouth with ice chips, popsicles, or other cold drinks for several minutes before, during, and after chemotherapy causing the tiny blood vessels in the protective linings inside the mouth to narrow. It is thought that this narrowing will reduce blood flow to the cooled areas, thereby decreasing the amount of chemotherapy that is delivered to the fragile protective linings inside the mouth that causes the taste changes. This may be an effective way to decrease taste changes in prostate cancer patients receiving taxane chemotherapy.

Conditions

Prostate Carcinoma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS) score

  The change score of the CiTAS (total score) from T1 to T2 will be compared between two arms using two sample t test or Kruskal-Wallis test whichever is appropriate. The statistical comparison will be conducted using intent-to-treat. Will use linear mixed model for repeated-measures design to evaluate the group-difference in the changes of CiTAS total score. Model will include time (T1, T2), group (the experimental, control group), group × time interaction, and covariates if necessary. Will evaluate the success of the randomization by examining between arm differences in demographic and clinical characteristics. Variables on which there are significant group differences will be further tested to determine if they meet the assumptions of covariates (chi square or t-test).

  Baseline (T1) to prior to cycle 2 (T2) (Cycle length = 21 days)

• Change in taste strip perception

  Taste strips will be analyzed with descriptive statistics. For the 5 basic tastes, will note the percentage of patients who could taste salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami at baseline and prior to cycle 2 and compare results between the two arms.

  Baseline to prior to cycle 2 (Cycle length = 21 days)

Study Arms (2)

Arm I (oral cryotherapy)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients undergo oral cryotherapy over 75 minutes and suck on a popsicle for 5 minutes before, during, and for 10 minutes post-infusion throughout first taxane chemotherapy cycle, up to 21 days, in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Procedure: Oral Cryotherapy; Other: Survey Administration

Arm II (best practice)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients receive usual care and are encouraged not to consume ice or popsicles throughout their first taxane chemotherapy cycle, up to 21 days, in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Other: Best Practice; Other: Survey Administration

Interventions

Best Practice OTHER

Receive usual care

Also known as: standard of care, standard therapy

Arm II (best practice)

Oral Cryotherapy PROCEDURE

Undergo oral cryotherapy

Arm I (oral cryotherapy)

Survey Administration OTHER

Ancillary studies

Arm I (oral cryotherapy); Arm II (best practice)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Patients undergoing taxane chemotherapy must be English speaking and have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score \< 2
• Documented written informed consent of the participant
• ONE of the following diagnoses:
• Prostate cancer
• Age: At least 18 years of age or older
• Undergoing initial single agent taxane chemotherapy
• Chemotherapy naïve
• Willingness to:
• Suck on popsicles during chemotherapy infusion
• Complete baseline and follow-up surveys

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with pre-existing taste alterations, oral surgery, or malformation that may interfere with the study procedure will be excluded. Patients receiving oxaliplatin will be excluded due to oral sensitivity of cold fluids during oxaliplatin administration
• Receiving oxaliplatin chemotherapy
• Pre-existing taste alterations
• Previous oral surgery
• Oral malformation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• City of Hope Medical Center: lead
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

City of Hope Medical Center

Duarte, California, 91010, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Prostatic Neoplasms

Interventions

Practice Guidelines as Topic; Standard of Care; Cryotherapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Genital Neoplasms, Male; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Genital Diseases, Male; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Prostatic Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Guidelines as Topic; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Quality of Health Care; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Jeannine M Brant

  City of Hope Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The study statistician will generate a password-protected randomization list to ensure blinding. Following completion of baseline questionnaires, the clinical research associate (CRA) will be informed of the group assignment and notify the participant. The study team is blinded to assignment until this point. The CRA will assist with data collection and will not be blinded to group assignment.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 16, 2025
• First Posted: October 20, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 17, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 17, 2027
• Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

US (1)