Could a laser beam stop chemo mouth sores?

NCT ID NCT01772706

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026

Summary

This trial investigates whether a low-level diode laser can prevent or reduce severe mouth sores (mucositis) caused by radiation and chemotherapy in people with advanced head and neck cancer. Participants receive either real laser therapy or a non-functional placebo laser during their cancer treatment. The study measures how many patients develop painful mouth sores that affect eating, aiming to find a simple way to ease a common side effect.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

low-level diode laser therapy

What this could lead to

If effective, this laser treatment could become a standard way to prevent painful mouth sores during cancer therapy, improving patients' quality of life.

What could go wrong

This is a mid-stage trial with 97 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The laser may not reduce severe mucositis more than a placebo.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ORAL MUCOSITIS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Head and Neck Neoplasms hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck stomatitis chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Centre Guillaume le Conquérant

    Le Havre, 76600, France

  • Centre Jean Godinot

    Reims, 51100, France

  • Centre hospitalier universitaire La Milétrie

    Poitiers, 86021, France

  • Clinique Armoricaine de Radiologie

    Saint-Brieuc, 22015, France

  • Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière

    Paris, 75013, France

  • Institut de Cancerologie de l'Ouest Paul Papin

    Angers, 49933, France