Could your own muscle cells restore swallowing after cancer?
NCT ID NCT05421689
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests if a person's own muscle cells, grown in a lab and injected into the tongue, can safely improve swallowing problems caused by head and neck cancer treatment. About 66 adults who finished cancer treatment at least 2 years ago and still have moderate swallowing trouble will receive either the cell treatment or a placebo. The main goals are to check for side effects and see if tongue strength improves.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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66 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2022
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or Female, at least 18 years old, with primary symptoms of TD following surgery and/or chemo- and/or radiotherapy for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma for oropharyngeal cancer. Treatment must be completed at least 24 months prior to enrollment, with TD and disease-free status confirmed by medical history, clinical symptoms, a focused head and neck examination, swallowing fluoroscopy, and high-resolution pharyngeal manometry. 2. TD severity should be moderate as defined by a Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS, provided in Appendix C). Individuals must have a FOIS of 3 or better and EAT-10 score of greater than 5. 3. Patient has failed to achieve resolution of symptoms following contemporary therapies. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Simultaneously participating in another investigational drug or device study or has completed the follow-up phase for the primary endpoint of any previous study less than 30 days prior to the first evaluation in this study. 2. Previously treated with an investigational device, drug, or procedure for TD within 6 months prior to signing consent. 3. TD of neurogenic etiology or uncorrected congenital abnormality leading to TD. 4. Neuromuscular disorder (e.g., Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis) that could lead to TD. 5. Severe fibrosis at injection site. 6. Uncontrolled diabetes. 7. Compromised immune system due to disease state, chronic corticosteroid use, or other immunosuppressive therapy. 8. Medical condition or disorder that may limit life expectancy or that may cause CIP deviations (e.g., unable to perform self-evaluations or accurately report medical history, symptoms, or data). 9. History of bleeding diathesis or uncorrectable coagulopathy. 10. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to bovine proteins or allergens, gentamicin sulfate, or ampicillin that medically warrants exclusion as determined by the physician. 11. Any non-skin cancer that has necessitated treatment within the past 24 months. Patient's Current Status-based Criteria: 1. Evidence or known high risk of recurrent or persistent cancer as determined by the physician during screening. 2. Tests positive for Hepatitis B (required tests: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen \[HBsAg\] and Anti-Hepatitis B Core Antibody \[Anti-HBc\]), Hepatitis C (required test: Hepatitis C Antibody \[Anti-HCV\]), HIV (required tests: HIV Type 1 and 2 Antibodies \[Anti-HIV-1, 2\]), and/or Syphilis. a. Tests performed by certified/authorized testing laboratory using licensed/approved tests and performed on blood samples collected within 30 days prior to muscle tissue procurement. 3. Cannot, or is not willing to maintain the current treatment regimen for existing contemporary therapy (e.g., swallowing therapy). 4. Requires prophylactic antibiotics for chronic infection or has required 2 or more courses of antibiotics for infections in the 2 months prior to signing consent. 5. Any condition, including current infection or immunodeficiency, which could lead to significant postoperative complications. 6. Refuses or cannot provide written informed consent. 7. Not available for, or willing to comply with the baseline and follow-up evaluations as required by the CIP. 8. Pregnant, lactating, or plans to become pregnant during the course of the study.
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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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UC Davis Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology
Sacramento, California, 95817, United States
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UC San Francisco Medical Center, Voice and Swallow Center
San Francisco, California, 94115, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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