Recruiting

Understanding Salivary Gland Diseases and Dry Mouth Conditions

Plain-English translation of NCT02327884 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

Researchers at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research want to better understand diseases that affect your salivary glands—the glands in your mouth that produce saliva. By studying samples from people with conditions like Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease that causes dry mouth) and other salivary gland problems, along with healthy volunteers, scientists hope to discover what causes these conditions and how to treat them better.

Salivary gland disease can cause serious problems like tooth decay, difficulty swallowing, and pain, yet doctors don't fully understand what causes these conditions or how to fix them. This study exists to gather information that could lead to new treatments and a better understanding of why some people develop dry mouth and related disorders.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 4 years old or older and have a salivary gland disease or dry mouth symptoms, or you are suspected of having one
you are a family member (related or not) of someone with a salivary gland disease
you are 18 or older and in good health, willing to donate blood, saliva, urine, or tissue samples
you are 18 or older with active hepatitis or undergoing immunotherapy treatment for oral cancer

You likely don't qualify if…

you are unable to give consent or permission yourself (or a parent/guardian cannot give permission for you)
you have a serious medical condition that would make it unsafe to participate, such as active chemotherapy or a bleeding disorder
you are pregnant (applies to healthy volunteers only)
you have HIV or hepatitis B or C infection (applies to healthy volunteers only)
you are currently taking long-term medications, except for blood pressure or cholesterol medications, aspirin, birth control, or hormone replacement therapy (applies to healthy volunteers only)

What participation looks like

If you join this study, you will visit a research clinic where doctors will examine your mouth and salivary glands. You may also be asked to provide samples of saliva, blood, or tissue (through a small biopsy of a salivary gland). Depending on your condition, you might have one or several visits. For patients undergoing cancer treatment with certain immunotherapy medications, you would be seen before and shortly before starting your definitive cancer treatment to track any changes in your salivary glands.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 7, 2026 · Not medical advice

Understanding Salivary Gland Diseases and Dry Mouth Conditions

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations