Cancer drug injected directly into precancerous mouth spots shows promise in early trial

NCT ID NCT05327270

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This early-phase trial tests whether injecting the cancer drug nivolumab directly into high-risk precancerous mouth lesions is safe and can shrink them. The study involves 18 adults with untreated oral lesions. The goal is to see if this local approach can reduce the risk of these lesions becoming cancer.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: nivolumab (Opdivo)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to treat precancerous mouth lesions and possibly prevent them from turning into cancer.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 18 people. It is designed mainly to test safety, not effectiveness, so results may not lead to a new treatment.

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 oral mucosa leukoplakia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.