Light therapy tested for painful mouth sores after stem cell transplant

NCT ID NCT05675930

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether photobiomodulation (PBM) — a type of light therapy — can safely treat oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a painful mouth condition that can occur after a stem cell transplant. About 44 participants who have not responded to at least one prior treatment will receive either real PBM or a sham device for 28 days. The main goal is to see if the light therapy can reduce mouth sore severity.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: photobiomodulation (light therapy) using the Thor LX2.3 device
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to relieve painful mouth sores in people with chronic GVHD, improving their quality of life.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial (44 people) testing a device, so results may not apply widely. The placebo effect from a sham device could also muddy the findings.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

chronic graft versus host disease graft versus host disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE GVHD UNDEFINED

Contacts and locations

Locations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Bergen (Consent only)
RECRUITING

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Commack (Consent only)
RECRUITING

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Nassau (Consent only)
RECRUITING

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Consent only)
RECRUITING

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (Consent only)
RECRUITING

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering at Basking Ridge (Consent only)
RECRUITING

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
National Institute of Health (Data Collection AND Specimen Analysis)
RECRUITING

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Data Collection Only)
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

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