Cholesterol drug may shield ears from chemo damage

NCT ID NCT04915183

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether atorvastatin, a widely used cholesterol medication, can reduce hearing loss caused by cisplatin chemotherapy in people with head and neck cancer. About 224 adults will be randomly assigned to take atorvastatin or a placebo daily during and for three months after their cancer treatment. Hearing tests and blood samples will be collected before, during, and up to two years after treatment to see if the drug makes a difference.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: atorvastatin
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, low-cost way to protect hearing during chemotherapy without affecting cancer treatment.
What could go wrong: This is a mid-stage trial with 224 people, so results are not yet proven. Atorvastatin may not prevent hearing loss, and there is a small risk of side effects like muscle pain or liver issues.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma hearing loss disorder squamous cell carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HEAD AND NECK CANCER HEARING LOSS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Inova Schar Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
RECRUITING

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
University of Maryland Medical Center
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New Yor
RECRUITING

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States
Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University
RECRUITING

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

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