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

A Pilot Study Examining the Feasibility of Oral Cryotherapy (Popsicles) in Decreasing Dysgeusia in Patients With Prostate Cancer Receiving Single Agent Taxane Therapy

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07218718
Enrollment
60
Registered
2025-10-20
Start date
2026-04-01
Completion date
2027-09-17
Last updated
2026-01-28

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

Conditions

Prostate Carcinoma

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.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess whether use of oral cryotherapy (popsicles) can decrease taste alterations (TAs) during receiving taxane chemotherapy. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: 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. ARM II: 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. After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up prior to cycle 2.

Interventions

OTHERBest Practice

Receive usual care

Undergo oral cryotherapy

OTHERSurvey Administration

Ancillary studies

Sponsors

City of Hope Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

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.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* 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

Exclusion criteria

* 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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS) scoreBaseline (T1) to prior to cycle 2 (T2) (Cycle length = 21 days)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).
Change in taste strip perceptionBaseline to prior to cycle 2 (Cycle length = 21 days)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.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJeannine M Brant

City of Hope Medical Center

Outcome results

None listed

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