Zapping away dry mouth: new study tests Acupuncture-Like device for cancer survivors
NCT ID NCT04805528
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a non-invasive electrical therapy, similar to acupuncture but without needles, can help relieve dry mouth in people who had radiation for head and neck cancer. Researchers will treat 75 participants twice a week for 12 weeks and measure changes in dry mouth symptoms using a questionnaire. The goal is to find a safe, drug-free way to improve quality of life after cancer treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to relieve chronic dry mouth after radiation, improving comfort and quality of life for cancer survivors.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with no control group, so results may not be conclusive. The therapy requires twice-weekly visits for 12 weeks, which may be burdensome, and side effects are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HEAD AND NECK CANCER are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Rochester
RECRUITINGRochester, New York, 14642, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can tailored nutrition boost recovery from head and neck surgery?
- Can less radiation be safer for throat cancer?
- Can Pre-Surgery immunotherapy prime the immune system to fight head and neck cancer?
- Can a new drug boost the power of chemoradiation against head and neck cancer?
- Exercise after cancer therapy: a new way to gauge prognosis?
- Can a pill restore the Body's tumor suppressor to fight multiple cancers?