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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Ketamine Topical

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 62
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lead Nurse; Phone Number: 45403 405-271-8001; Email: SCC-IIT-Office@ouhsc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73117
      • OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center
      • Principal Investigator: Rusha Patel, MD
      • Contact: Lead Nurse; Phone Number: 405-271-8777; Email: SCC-IIT-Office@ouhsc.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Control Group; Topical unmedicated syrup base + any standard treatment for oral mucositis.	Drug: Placebo; 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.
Experimental: Intervention Group; Topical ketamine in syrup + any standard treatment for oral mucositis.	Drug: Ketamine Topical; 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients who have altered pain response from mucositis in head and neck cancer undergoing radiation treatment from using ketamine oral rinse.	Review 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.	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oklahoma
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rusha Patel, MD, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 26, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Head and Neck Cancer; Ketamine; Radiation; Oral Rinse
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Organic Chemicals; Hydrocarbons; Cyclohexanes; Cycloparaffins; Hydrocarbons, Alicyclic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: OU-SCC-KORAL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No