Acupuncture offers hope for cancer survivors suffering from chronic dry mouth

NCT ID NCT02589938

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether acupuncture can reduce dry mouth (xerostomia) caused by radiation therapy in people with head and neck cancer. A total of 258 participants were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture or usual care. The main goal was to see if acupuncture improved dry mouth symptoms, measured by a questionnaire at several time points over 12 weeks.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms hypopharynx cancer laryngeal neoplasm Mouth Neoplasms nasopharyngeal neoplasm oropharynx cancer radiation injury salivary gland cancer Xerostomia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEAD AND NECK CANCER ORAL COMPLICATIONS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND HEAD/NECK RADIATION RADIATION TOXICITY RADIATION-INDUCED XEROSTOMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Adena Regional Medical Center

Chillicothe, Ohio, 45601, United States
Christus Saint Vincent Regional Cancer Center

Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, United States
Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates Inc

Columbus, Ohio, 43214, United States
Fairview Southdale Hospital

Edina, Minnesota, 55435, United States
Hennepin County Medical Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States
John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center - Santa Clara

Santa Clara, California, 95051, United States
Kaiser Permanente-San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94115, United States
Kaiser Permanente-San Rafael

San Rafael, California, 94903, United States
Kaiser Permanente-Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, California, 95403, United States
Kaiser Permanente-Santa Teresa-San Jose

San Jose, California, 95119, United States
Kaiser Permanente-South San Francisco

South San Francisco, California, 94080, United States
Kaiser Permanente-Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek, California, 94596, United States
Kaiser San Rafael-Gallinas

San Rafael, California, 94903, United States
M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
MD Anderson West Houston

Houston, Texas, 77079, United States
MD Anderson in The Woodlands

Conroe, Texas, 77384, United States
Meharry Medical College

Nashville, Tennessee, 37208, United States
Mercy Health Saint Mary's

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
Mercy Hospital

Coon Rapids, Minnesota, 55433, United States
Park Nicollet Clinic - Saint Louis Park

Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, 55416, United States
Physicians' Clinic of Iowa PC

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52402, United States
Prisma Health Cancer Institute - Eastside

Greenville, South Carolina, 29615, United States
Prisma Health Cancer Institute - Seneca

Seneca, South Carolina, 29672, United States
Prisma Health Cancer Institute - Spartanburg

Boiling Springs, South Carolina, 29316, United States
Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital

Greenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States
Providence Portland Medical Center

Portland, Oregon, 97213, United States
Providence Regional Cancer System-Lacey

Lacey, Washington, 98503, United States
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center/Disney Family Cancer Center

Burbank, California, 91505, United States
Queen's Medical Center

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813, United States
Saint Luke's Hospital

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52402, United States
Spectrum Health at Butterworth Campus

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
The Cancer Center of Hawaii-Liliha

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817, United States
University of Hawaii Cancer Center

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813, United States
University of New Mexico Cancer Center

Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102, United States
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States

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