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Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in Preventing Radiotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Clinical Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of N-acetylcysteine in Preventing Radiotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06354712
Enrollment
50
Registered
2024-04-09
Start date
2024-04-04
Completion date
2025-03-01
Last updated
2025-01-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Oral Mucositis (Ulcerative) Due to Radiation

Keywords

Oral Mucositis, Radiotherapy, N-acetylcysteine

Brief summary

A prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel clinical trial will be conducted at Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Center at Mansoura University Hospital to assess the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of radiotherapy induced oral mucositis in Head and Neck cancer patients.

Interventions

DRUGN-Acetyl-Cysteine with Institutional standard care

A potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug (A precursor of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione)

DRUGInstitutional standard care

Benzydamine Mouthwash

Sponsors

Mansoura University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Adults \>18 years diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck scheduled to receive curative radiotherapy (Primary or postoperative) of at least 50 Gy with or without concurrent chemotherapy. 2. Individuals with healthy mucosa. 3. Adequate bone marrow function (Hemoglobin level ≥10 g/dL, platelet count ≥75 × 103/microliter, and absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5 × 103/microliter). 4. Patients with ECOG performance ≤2

Exclusion criteria

1. History of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 2. Signs of systemic infections. 3. Pregnant and lactating women. 4. Individuals receiving systemic analgesics. 5. Liver disorders and renal failure with eGFR \<30 ml/min/1.73m2 (by the MDRD equation). 6. Inability to follow instructions and complete the questionnaires.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of oral mucositis with grade ≥ 2 assessed weekly by World Health Organization scale for Oral Mucositis.8 weeksDifference between the two arms regarding incidence of grade ≥ 2 according to World Health Organization scale for Oral Mucositis.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to develop oral mucositis with grade ≥ 2.8 weeksDifference between the two arms regarding time to develop oral mucositis with grade ≥ 2 according to WHO scale for oral mucositis. World Health Organization scale for oral mucositis * Grade 0: no oral mucositis * Grade 1: erythema and soreness * Grade 2: ulcers, able to eat solids * Grade 3: ulcers, requires liquid diet * Grade 4: ulcers, alimentation not possible (due to mucositis).
Duration of oral mucositis with grade ≥ 2.8 weeksDifference between the two arms regarding duration of oral mucositis with grade ≥ 2 according to WHO scale for oral mucositis.
Pain assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS).8 weeksThe pain VAS is a unidimensional measure of pain intensity, used to record patients' pain progression. The most simple VAS is a straight horizontal line of fixed length usually 100 mm. The ends are defined as the extreme limits of the parameter to be measured (pain) orientated from the left (worst) to the right (best). we will allocate this scale in comparing pain severity between the two arms.
Functional oral intake scale8 weeksTUBE DEPENDENT (levels 1-3) 1. No oral intake 2. Tube dependent with minimal/inconsistent oral intake 3 Tube supplements with consistent oral intake TOTAL ORAL INTAKE (levels 4-7) 4. Total oral intake of a single consistency 5. Total oral intake of multiple consistencies requiring special preparation 6. Total oral intake with no special preparation, but must avoid specific foods or liquid items 7. Total oral intake with no restrictions
Patient's quality of life assessed by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer (FACT-H&N) version 48 weeksA questionnaire filled by head and neck cancer patient to assess the quality of life. H&N1 I am able to eat the foods that I like H&N2 My mouth is dry H&N3 I have trouble breathing H&N4 My voice has its usual quality and strength H&N5 I am able to eat as much food as I want H&N6 I am unhappy with how my face and neck look H&N7 I can swallow naturally and easily H&N8 I smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products H&N9 I drink alcohol (e.g. beer, wine, etc.) H&N10 I am able to communicate with others H&N11 I can eat solid foods H&N12 I have pain in my mouth, throat or neck Scoring:Not at all (0) A little bit (1) Somewhat (2) Quite a bit (3) Very much(4)

Countries

Egypt

Contacts

Primary ContactReem Abou-Elezz, BSc
reemabouelezz@mans.edu.eg+201065396455

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026