Scientists investigate whether tiny microbes fuel head and neck tumors
NCT ID NCT05837221
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether changes in the bacteria living in your mouth and gut (the microbiome) are linked to head and neck cancer. Researchers will collect stool and saliva samples from 60 people—half with cancer and half without—to compare their microbial makeup. The goal is to understand if these microbes play a role in cancer development, which could lead to new ways to diagnose or treat the disease in the future.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could reveal how bacteria in the mouth and gut influence head and neck cancer, potentially pointing to new ways to detect or treat the disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early observational study with only 60 participants. It is designed to gather information, not to test a treatment, so direct benefits for patients are not expected.
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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
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University of Colorado Cancer Center
RECRUITINGAurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
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