Effects of Tobacco Flavoring and Liquid Composition on Vaping Topography

This clinical trial tests the effect of tobacco flavor and liquid composition on the way a person puffs on a vape (topography). In general, tobacco products are designed with sensory factors in mind, such as flavor, to increase the appeal. Flavors and the composition of nicotine, either made in a lab (synthetic) or from tobacco, may create positive sensory effects, such as look, feel and taste, and influence smoking behavior and willingness to try different types of cigarettes. Understanding how nicotine vaping products are used is important in assessing individual and population level health risks. Vape flavors and synthetic nicotine may be related to harmful effects on health from vaping and may impact the appeal, risk beliefs and vaping topography.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Tobacco-Related Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Vaping; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Other: Questionnaire Administration

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

• Examine the influence of tobacco flavoring composition on vaping topography.
• Examine the influence of synthetic versus (vs.) tobacco derived nicotine on vaping topography.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

• Examine the influence of tobacco flavoring composition on vaping topography.
• Examine the influence of synthetic versus (vs.) tobacco derived nicotine on vaping topography.

OUTLINE:

The order of directed and ad libitum bouts are randomized within participants at each session.

SESSION 1: Participants puff their own brand liquid on study.

SESSIONS 2-5: Participants puff 1 of 4 randomly assigned tobacco flavor formulations at each visit on study.

SESSIONS 6-7: Participants puff 1 of 2 randomly assigned nicotine formulations at each visit on study.

Participants also undergo collection of saliva samples and optionally undergo collection of oral cell and oral rinse samples throughout study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14263
      • Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current daily vapers of products containing nicotine
• No daily concurrent use of other tobacco products
• Self-reported general good health
• Women of child bearing potential must be willing to provide a urine sample and test negative prior to receiving any study-related products/procedures
• Ability to speak, read, and write in English
• Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an independent ethics committee/institutional review board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergies - active untreated seasonal allergies that would interfere with smell or taste procedures
• Self-reported taste or smell deficits
• Pregnant or nursing female participants
• Medications known to interfere with taste/smell (i.e., certain nasal sprays, nasal antihistamines, decongestants, antibiotics, medications containing zinc)
• Unwilling to use open system vaping device in laboratory setting
• Positive diagnosis of human coronavirus 2019 infection (COVID-19) within 10 days prior to start of study intervention
• Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
• Any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate to receive the study intervention

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Vaping -; Description The order of directed and ad libitum bouts are randomized within participants at each session. SESSION 1: Participants puff their own brand liquid on study. SESSIONS 2-5: Participants puff 1 of 4 randomly assigned tobacco flavor formulations at each visit on study. SESSIONS 6-7: Participants puff 1 of 2 randomly assigned nicotine formulations at each visit on study. Participants also undergo collection of saliva samples and optionally undergo collection of oral cell and oral rinse samples throughout study.

Other: Vaping; Undergo vape puffing regimen; Other Names: Vape, Vaping; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Undergo collection of saliva samples and oral cell samples; Other Names: Biological Sample Collection; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Administer Quesitonnaire

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Puff Topography: Puff Count	Measure of vaping topography counting total number of puffs.	Single Session, Approximately 2 hours in duration
Puff Topography: Puff Duration (in Seconds)	Measure of vaping topography counting duration of puffs in seconds.	Single Session, Approximately 2 hours in duration
Puff Topography: Inter Puff Interval (IPI)	Measure of vaping topography counting the interval between puffs in seconds.	Single Session, Approximately 2 hours in duration
Puff Topography: Puff Volume	Measure of vaping topography measuring the volume per puff in ml.	Single Session, Approximately 2 hours in duration
Puff Topography: Flow Rate	Measure of vaping topography measuring the rate of flow per puff in milliliters per second.	Single Session, Approximately 2 hours in duration

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subjective Questionnaires of Product Evaluation	Will be assessed by Duke Sensory Scale	Single Session, Approximately 2 hours in duration

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Richard O'Connor, Roswell Park

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 8, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 29, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 16, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 25, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 22, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 17, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Manufactured Materials; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture; Smoking Devices; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
• Other Study ID Numbers: I 3234822; U54CA228110 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes