Could a simple dye and camera replace biopsies for mouth cancer?

NCT ID NCT01269190

First seen Nov 01, 2025 · Last updated Jun 20, 2026 · Updated 34 times

Summary

This study is testing whether a special dye and camera system can help doctors see pre-cancerous or cancerous spots in the mouth without needing a biopsy. Researchers will apply a fluorescent dye called proflavine to the mouth and use two types of cameras to take detailed images. The images will be compared to standard tissue samples to see if the new method is accurate. The study involves 275 adults who are already scheduled for oral surgery.

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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.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • M D Anderson Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••

    Contact

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Proflavine (a topical fluorescent dye)

What this could lead to

If successful, this imaging method could help doctors quickly and non-invasively identify which mouth lesions are pre-cancerous or cancerous, reducing the need for biopsies.

What could go wrong

This is an early feasibility study, not a treatment trial. The imaging is still being tested against standard biopsy results, and it may not be accurate enough to replace current methods.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Mouth Neoplasms oral cavity neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

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