Plain-English translation of NCT05837221 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Researchers have noticed that people with head and neck cancer often have different bacteria in their mouths compared to healthy people. This study is collecting saliva and stool samples from patients with oral cancer and from healthy volunteers to understand whether these bacterial changes play a role in cancer development and how they might work at a cellular level.
While smoking, alcohol, and HPV infection are known risk factors for head and neck cancer, not everyone exposed to these factors develops the disease — suggesting that other factors like oral bacteria may be important. Understanding this connection could eventually lead to new ways to prevent or treat head and neck cancer.
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You will be asked to provide saliva and stool samples, which researchers will freeze and analyze to study the bacteria present. The saliva collection is simple — you'll spit into a tube at least 30 minutes after eating, drinking, or chewing gum. The study does not involve taking any medication or undergoing procedures; it is purely focused on sample collection to advance our understanding of how bacteria may relate to head and neck cancer.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 18, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Enrollment target
~60 participants
Started
May 2025
Primary completion
November 2026
Age range
18 Years – 100 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in February 2026.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Yosr Doghri
University of Colorado, Denver
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.