How alcohol breaks down in the mouth and cancer risk

Plain-English translation of NCT05973656 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

Researchers want to understand how a chemical called acetaldehyde—which your body creates when it breaks down —may increase the risk of oral (mouth) cancer, especially in people who drink regularly or have certain genetic conditions. This study will have some participants drink a single alcoholic beverage while researchers collect saliva, mouth cells, and urine samples to see how their bodies process the . Other participants who don't drink will provide the same samples so researchers can compare the results.

We know that heavy use increases the risk of mouth cancer, but scientists don't fully understand the exact mechanism—specifically, how acetaldehyde damages cells in the mouth. This study aims to fill that gap so doctors can better understand who is at highest risk and potentially develop better prevention and treatment strategies.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 21 and 45 years old (if you drink alcohol) or between 18 and 45 (if you don't)
you drink at least one alcoholic drink per month (healthy volunteers) or had at least one drink in the last 3 months (if you have Fanconi anemia)
you have never smoked, or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in your entire lifetime
you do not have a medical condition that could be worsened by alcohol, such as diabetes, ulcers, or heart problems
you are not pregnant, not nursing, and not taking medications that interact with alcohol

You likely don't qualify if…

you are currently pregnant or nursing
you have a history of alcohol or drug-related problems, or you experience severe nausea or blackouts when drinking even small amounts
you have used tobacco, nicotine products, or marijuana regularly in the past year
you currently drink more than 21 alcoholic drinks per week
you have an active infection like a cold, flu, COVID-19, or respiratory infection (you can join once you recover)

What participation looks like

If you're in the drinking group, you'll come to the study site and consume a single standard drink of while researchers measure your blood level with a breathalyzer. Throughout the visit, you'll provide saliva samples and have mouth cells collected using a mouthwash rinse and cheek brush, plus a urine sample. If you're in the non-drinking comparison group, you'll provide the same saliva, mouth cell, and urine samples at various time points, but without consuming any . Most samples are collected non-invasively; blood samples (optional) are small and will be stored for future research.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 1, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota