New light treatment could fight oral cancer without surgery

NCT ID NCT06876038

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

Summary

This study tests a low-cost approach to treat pre-cancerous and cancerous mouth lesions using a drug (5-ALA) that makes abnormal cells sensitive to light, followed by laser light delivered through a handheld device. The goal is to destroy these lesions without surgery. The trial will enroll 65 adults with high-risk oral lesions and follow them for one year to see if the treatment works and if the device is easy to use.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide an affordable, non-surgical treatment for early oral cancers and pre-cancers, especially in areas with limited resources.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial (65 people) testing a new device and drug combination. It may not work for all lesion types, and long-term recurrence or side effects are unknown.

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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

  • Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU

    Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India

  • Karkinos Healthcare Hospitals

    Ernākulam, Kerala, India

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