Skip to content

Head and Neck Cancer Patients With Oral Mucositis Treated With Ketamine Oral Rinse

Ketamine Oral Rinse in the Management of Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06660017
Enrollment
62
Registered
2024-10-26
Start date
2026-09-01
Completion date
2027-11-01
Last updated
2026-08-18

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

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer

Keywords

Head and Neck Cancer, Ketamine, Oral Rinse, Radiation

Brief summary

This 2-arm phase II study proposes to determine the efficacy of ketamine oral rinse in pain relief from mucositis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment.

Detailed description

Patients with histologically proven head and neck cancer undergoing radiation or concurrent chemoradiation as part of their treatment plan, will either receive ketamine oral rinse or unmedicated oral rinse to use 4 times a day if they develop oral mucositis during their radiation. Patients will be monitored during treatment and up to 30 days after and will utilize a pain diary to document daily.

Interventions

DRUGPlacebo

Patients in this arm will receive unmedicated syrup solution dispensed as 20mg/5ml 4 times a day in addition to receiving one of the following standard treatments; Magic Mouthwash, saliva substitute rinses, over-the-counter remedies including honey or salt and soda rinses, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), or opioid medications.

Patients in this arm will receive ketamine oral rinse dispensed as 20mg/5ml 4 times a day in addition to receiving one of the following standard treatments; Magic Mouthwash, saliva substitute rinses, over-the-counter remedies including honey or salt and soda rinses, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), or opioid medications.

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

The principal investigator and pharmacist will be the only ones who are aware of whom gets which arm of the study.

Intervention model description

There will be a control group and an intervention group in this study. The control group will receive an unmedicated syrup solution in addition to standard treatment for oral mucositis. The intervention group will receive ketamine oral rinse in addition to standard treatment for oral mucositis.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Written informed consent signed and dated by the patient prior to the performance of the study-specific procedure. 2. At least 18 years-of-age at the time of signature of the informed consent form (ICF). 3. Patients with histologically proven HNSCC undergoing radiation of concurrent chemoradiation as part of their treatment plan. 4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status score of 0, 1, or 2. 5. The patients has received at least one radiation treatment for (HNSCC) the current disease. 6. CTCAE v. 5.0 grade 2 or greater oral cavity or pharyngeal mucositis documented to have developed after initiation of radiotherapy. 7. Males or female patients. Male patients with female partners of childbearing potential and female patients of childbearing potential are required to use two forms of acceptable contraception, including one barrier method, during their participation in the study and for 30 days following last dose. Male patients must also refrain from donating sperm during participation in the study.

Exclusion criteria

1. Inability to sign an informed consent form. 2. Any other malignancy diagnosed or treated within 10 years prior to enrollment. 3. Any documented hypersensitivity to ketamine. 4. Contraindication for ketamine use, including allergy. 5. Patients with schizophrenia, acute psychosis, or any psychiatric disorder that could be dangerous if exacerbated. 6. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or who plan to become pregnant while in the study and for at least \<\<6\>\> months after the last administration of study treatment. 7. Men who plan to father a child while in the study and for at least 6 months after the last administration of study treatment. 8. As judged by the Investigator, any evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic diseases, including uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, active bleeding diatheses, or active infection including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus. Screening for chronic conditions is not required. 9. Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whole natural history or treatment does not have potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen should be included. 10. Psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical conditions that do not permit compliance with the protocol and/or follow-up procedures outlined in the protocol.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of patients who have altered pain response from mucositis in head and neck cancer undergoing radiation treatment from using ketamine oral rinse.6 monthsReview weekly questionnaires of patients who received ketamine oral rinse to assess if it helped with the pain of mucositis caused by the radiation in head and neck cancer patients.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of patients whose dysphagia was decreased by the use of ketamine oral rinse among head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.6 months.Dysphagia as assessed by MDADI.
Number of patients whose quality-of-life increased after the use of ketamine oral rinse among head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.6 monthsQuality of life as assessed by FACT-HN.
Number of patients who need morphine prescription equivalent reductions as a result of using ketamine oral rinse.6 monthsPain medication requirement measured in morphine equivalents.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTLead Nurse
SCC-IIT-Office@ouhsc.edu405-271-8001
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRusha Patel, MD

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 19, 2026