Acetylcysteine Rinse in Reducing Saliva Thickness and Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Summary

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies whether acetylcysteine oral rinse will lessen saliva thickness and painful mouth sores in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Side effects from radiation therapy to the head and neck, such as thickened saliva and mouth sores, may interfere with activities of daily living such as eating and drinking, and may also cause treatment to be stopped or delayed. Acetylcysteine rinse may reduce saliva thickness and mouth sores, and improve quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Timeline

Start

2014-04

Primary completion

2016-03-22

Completion

2018-07-02

Publications

• Sio TT, Blanchard MJ, Novotny PJ, Patel SH, Rwigema JM, Pederson LD, McGee LA, Gamez ME, Seeger GR, Martenson JA, Grover Y, Neben Wittich MA, Garces YI, Foote RL, Miller RC, Halyard MY. N-Acetylcysteine Rinse for Thick Secretion and Mucositis of Head and Neck Chemoradiotherapy (Alliance MC13C2): A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019 Sep;94(9):1814-1824. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.03.031. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

Drugs

Indications