Skip to content
← Study library

NCT02123511 · REGISTRY CONDITION SEARCH

Acetylcysteine Rinse in Reducing Saliva Thickness and Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Found through the registry condition index, not selected as a treatment recommendation. This discovery collection was restricted to studies with posted results.

Phase
PHASE2
Status at capture
COMPLETED
Registry last update
2019-04-30

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies whether acetylcysteine oral rinse will lessen saliva thickness and painful mouth sores in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Side effects from radiation therapy to the head and neck, such as thickened saliva and mouth sores, may interfere with activities of daily living such as eating and drinking, and may also cause treatment to be stopped or delayed. Acetylcysteine rinse may reduce saliva thickness and mouth sores, and improve quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Open the original ClinicalTrials.gov record → · Download preserved record

What did the study report?

Outcomes, safety and baseline populations are separate source sections. Quality-of-life measures appear under their original outcome titles.

Who could take part
eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Histological confirmation of tumor of the oral cavity, oropharynx, supraglottic larynx, or nasopharynx * Receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy/chemobiotherapy to a minimum dose equivalent to 60 Gy in 30 fractions in the adjuvant or definitive setting * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1 or 2 * Initiation of investigational agent =\< 3 days after initiation of radiotherapy * Negative pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration, for women of childbearing potential only * Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance * Provide informed written consent * Willing to return mail-in questionnaires during the observation phase of the study Exclusion Criteria: * Any of the following: * Pregnant women * Nursing women * Men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception * Co-morbid systemic illnesses or other severe concurrent disease which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and toxicity of the prescribed regimens * Immunocompromised patients and patients known to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and currently receiving antiretroviral therapy; NOTE: patients known to be HIV positive, but without clinical evidence of an immunocompromised state, are eligible for this trial * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Receiving any other investigational agent which would be considered as a treatment for the primary neoplasm * History of myocardial infarction =\< 6 months, or congestive heart failure requiring use of ongoing maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias * Receipt of induction chemotherapy * Previous receipt of head and neck irradiation * Utilization of amifostine during radiotherapy * Greater than or equal to grade 2 dry mouth prior to chemoradiotherapy or greater than or equal to grade 2 mucositis * Previous intolerance/adverse effect/allergy to any component of the placebo or active agent * History of Sjogren's, lupus or scleroderma
healthy Volunteers
false
minimum Age
18 Years
sex
ALL
std Ages
  1. ADULT
  2. OLDER_ADULT
Treatment arms and interventions
arm Groups
  1. description
    Patients receive acetylcysteine oral rinse and gargle or swish for 60 seconds then spit 5 times per day beginning within 3 days of the initiation of radiotherapy to 14 days following completion of radiotherapy.
    intervention Names
    1. Drug: acetylcysteine
    2. Other: quality-of-life assessment
    3. Other: questionnaire administration
    label
    Arm I (acetylcysteine)
    type
    EXPERIMENTAL
  2. description
    Patients receive a placebo oral rinse and gargle or swish for 60 seconds and then spit 5 times per day beginning within 3 days of the initiation of radiotherapy to 14 days following completion of radiotherapy.
    intervention Names
    1. Other: placebo
    2. Other: quality-of-life assessment
    3. Other: questionnaire administration
    label
    Arm II (placebo)
    type
    PLACEBO_COMPARATOR
interventions
  1. arm Group Labels
    1. Arm I (acetylcysteine)
    description
    Oral rinse
    name
    acetylcysteine
    other Names
    1. Airbron
    2. Broncholysin
    3. Brunac
    4. N-acetylcysteine
    5. NAC
    type
    DRUG
  2. arm Group Labels
    1. Arm II (placebo)
    description
    Oral rinse
    name
    placebo
    other Names
    1. PLCB
    type
    OTHER
  3. arm Group Labels
    1. Arm I (acetylcysteine)
    2. Arm II (placebo)
    description
    Ancillary studies
    name
    quality-of-life assessment
    other Names
    1. quality of life assessment
    type
    OTHER
  4. arm Group Labels
    1. Arm I (acetylcysteine)
    2. Arm II (placebo)
    description
    Ancillary studies
    name
    questionnaire administration
    type
    OTHER
Study design
allocation
RANDOMIZED
intervention Model
PARALLEL
masking Info
masking
DOUBLE
who Masked
  1. PARTICIPANT
  2. INVESTIGATOR
primary Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Enrollment
count
34
type
ACTUAL
Registered outcome plans (not posted results)
primary Outcomes
  1. description
    Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX) sticky saliva total score Area under the curve (AUC).The GRIX questionnaire is a 14-item questionnaire with four subscales on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and each subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale. AUC will be calculated for each patient from baseline to two weeks following radiotherapy. The AUC values will be compared between the two arms using t-test (equal variance).
    measure
    Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX) Sticky Saliva Total Score Area Under the Curve (AUC)
    time Frame
    Up to 2 weeks following radiotherapy
secondary Outcomes
  1. description
    Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX) sticky saliva Daytime Area under the curve (AUC).The GRIX questionnaire is a 14-item questionnaire with four subscales on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and each subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale. AUC will be calculated for each patient from baseline to two weeks following radiotherapy. The AUC values will be compared between the two arms using t-test (equal variance).
    measure
    Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX) Sticky Saliva Daytime Area Under the Curve (AUC)
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  2. description
    Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX) sticky saliva Nighttime Area under the curve (AUC).The GRIX questionnaire is a 14-item questionnaire with four subscales on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and each subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale. AUC will be calculated for each patient from baseline to two weeks following radiotherapy. The AUC values will be compared between the two arms using t-test (equal variance).
    measure
    Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX) Sticky Saliva Nighttime Area Under the Curve (AUC).
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  3. description
    GRIX Xerostomia Daytime AUC. The GRIX questionnaire is a 14-item questionnaire with four subscales on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and each subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale. AUC will be calculated for each patient from baseline to two weeks following radiotherapy. The AUC values will be compared between the two arms using t-test (equal variance).
    measure
    GRIX Xerostomia Daytime AUC
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  4. description
    GRIX Xerostomia Nighttime AUC. The GRIX questionnaire is a 14-item questionnaire with four subscales on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and each subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale. AUC will be calculated for each patient from baseline to two weeks following radiotherapy. The AUC values will be compared between the two arms using t-test (equal variance).
    measure
    GRIX Xerostomia Nighttime AUC
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  5. description
    GRIX Xerostiomia Total Score AUC. The GRIX questionnaire is a 14-item questionnaire with four subscales on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and each subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale. AUC will be calculated for each patient from baseline to two weeks following radiotherapy. The AUC values will be compared between the two arms using t-test (equal variance).
    measure
    GRIX Xerostiomia Total Score AUC
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  6. description
    Average Area Under the Curve per assessment (aAUCpa) of QLQ H\&N35 subscales including pain, swallowing, teeth, opening mouth, dry mouth, sticky saliva, senses problems, coughing, speech problems, felt ill, trouble with social contact, trouble with social eating, less sexuality, pain killers, nutritional supplements, feeding tube, weight loss, and weight gain. The QLQ H\&N35 scoring algorithm was used for pain (questions 31-34) on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient and subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation and assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale.
    measure
    EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) H&N Pain AUC
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  7. description
    Average Area Under the Curve per assessment (aAUCpa) of QLQ H\&N35 subscales including pain, swallowing, teeth, opening mouth, dry mouth, sticky saliva, senses problems, coughing, speech problems, felt ill, trouble with social contact, trouble with social eating, less sexuality, pain killers, nutritional supplements, feeding tube, weight loss, \& weight gain. The QLQ H\&N35 scoring algorithm was used for swallowing (questions 35-38) on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient \& subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation \& assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale.
    measure
    EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) Swallowing
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  8. description
    Average Area Under the Curve per assessment (aAUCpa) of QLQ H\&N35 subscales including pain, swallowing, teeth, opening mouth, dry mouth, sticky saliva, senses problems, coughing, speech problems, felt ill, trouble with social contact, trouble with social eating, less sexuality, pain killers, nutritional supplements, feeding tube, weight loss, \& weight gain. The QLQ H\&N35 scoring algorithm was used for sticky saliva (question 42) on 0-100 scales with higher scores representing worse symptoms. The aAUCpa for each subscale is calculated as the average of each AUC between each sequential assessment from treatment-initiation to the end of radiotherapy. For example; for each patient \& subscale, the subscale values at treatment-initiation \& assessment-1 are used to calculate an Area Under the Curve (AUC) for that assessment time-period. Then these AUCs for all available assessment time-periods up to the end of their radiotherapy are averaged to yield the aAUCpa per patient per subscale.
    measure
    EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) H&N Sticky Saliva AUC
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
  9. description
    The maximum grade for each type of toxicity will be recorded for each patient. The overall adverse event rates (percentages) for adverse events are reported below.
    measure
    Adverse Event, as Measured by the Number of Patients With a Maximum Grade of Any Adverse Event
    time Frame
    Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
Full study description
brief Summary
This randomized pilot clinical trial studies whether acetylcysteine oral rinse will lessen saliva thickness and painful mouth sores in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Side effects from radiation therapy to the head and neck, such as thickened saliva and mouth sores, may interfere with activities of daily living such as eating and drinking, and may also cause treatment to be stopped or delayed. Acetylcysteine rinse may reduce saliva thickness and mouth sores, and improve quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
detailed Description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (acetylcysteine) in improving saliva viscosity (as measured by the Groningen Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia \[GRIX\]) in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can improve other GRIX subscale for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. II. To determine whether NAC can improve patient reported quality of life as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) Head \& Neck (H\&N)35. III. To assess the adverse event profile of NAC as measured by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) every week during radiation. IV. To determine patient adherence to N-acetylcysteine mucoadherent rinse using patient reported surveys. V. To determine the long-term benefits of N-acetylcysteine as measured by the GRIX questionnaire at 45 days and 90 days post treatment. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive acetylcysteine oral rinse and gargle or swish for 60 seconds then spit 5 times per day, beginning within 3 days of the initiation of radiotherapy to 14 days following completion of radiotherapy. ARM II: Patients receive a placebo oral rinse and gargle or swish for 60 seconds and then spit 5 times per day beginning within 3 days of the initiation of radiotherapy to 14 days following completion of radiotherapy. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 45 and 90 days.
Source references
references
  1. citation
    Sio TT, Blanchard MJ, Novotny PJ, Patel SH, Rwigema JM, Pederson LD, McGee LA, Gamez ME, Seeger GR, Martenson JA, Grover Y, Neben Wittich MA, Garces YI, Foote RL, Miller RC, Halyard MY. N-Acetylcysteine Rinse for Thick Secretion and Mucositis of Head and Neck Chemoradiotherapy (Alliance MC13C2): A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019 Sep;94(9):1814-1824. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.03.031. Epub 2019 Aug 9.
    pmid
    31405750
    type
    DERIVED
Source notices and limitations
    Discovery and provenance
    1. release id
      ctgov-registry-1336d216cbd1bbff780dac70
      edge id
      nct-edge-4bc316e01ae1b410776a
      requested nct id
      NCT02123511
      primary nct id
      NCT02123511
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source file sha256
      fd31a95088dd8ee475e2862bffd724180f0c754cf3f0e892cba5b448df424980
      payload sha256
      f8745aff549cf48699a6ca7d2e6d0021dec2413239f0c2e60bef89fa17a4f252
      payload
      clinical indication matching status
      condition_index_match_asserted_by_registry_not_reviewed
      end exclusive
      true
      id
      nct-edge-4bc316e01ae1b410776a
      link basis
      returned_by_explicit_condition_and_posted_results_filter_query
      nct id
      NCT02123511
      occurrences
      1. context exact
        NCT02123511
        end
        11
        exact text
        NCT02123511
        start
        0
      offset unit
      unicode_code_points
      query cond
      Laryngeal Cancer
      query disease state id
      ds-laryngeal-cancer
      source file
      /Users/arunverma/Documents/ChatGPT/Cancer Statistics Website/research-data/2026-09-10/clinicaltrials-condition/round-0000/raw/cond-laryngeal-cancer-000.json
      source file sha256
      fd31a95088dd8ee475e2862bffd724180f0c754cf3f0e892cba5b448df424980
      source json pointer
      /studies/112/protocolSection/identificationModule/nctId
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source string basis
      parsed_JSON_string_unmodified
      source string sha256
      c531f86f8c962a8e71955c4f05394ac3baa87b2f86d9a9ca32cbe0dddcc54cda
    2. release id
      ctgov-registry-1336d216cbd1bbff780dac70
      edge id
      nct-edge-b21c724bd751115be32e
      requested nct id
      NCT02123511
      primary nct id
      NCT02123511
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source file sha256
      38e97f6c23d7b292911d062dea3fc0dffbdcbde03aae232fe8d067fdd28034c9
      payload sha256
      dba1e0935bfd7e89c8b359c539732ecafa930aa4d826d60c199c7bb602dfaf98
      payload
      clinical indication matching status
      condition_index_match_asserted_by_registry_not_reviewed
      end exclusive
      true
      id
      nct-edge-b21c724bd751115be32e
      link basis
      returned_by_explicit_condition_and_posted_results_filter_query
      nct id
      NCT02123511
      occurrences
      1. context exact
        NCT02123511
        end
        11
        exact text
        NCT02123511
        start
        0
      offset unit
      unicode_code_points
      query cond
      Salivary Gland Cancer
      query disease state id
      ds-salivary-gland-cancer
      source file
      /Users/arunverma/Documents/ChatGPT/Cancer Statistics Website/research-data/2026-09-10/clinicaltrials-condition/round-0000/raw/cond-salivary-gland-cancer-000.json
      source file sha256
      38e97f6c23d7b292911d062dea3fc0dffbdcbde03aae232fe8d067fdd28034c9
      source json pointer
      /studies/47/protocolSection/identificationModule/nctId
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source string basis
      parsed_JSON_string_unmodified
      source string sha256
      c531f86f8c962a8e71955c4f05394ac3baa87b2f86d9a9ca32cbe0dddcc54cda

    Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice