Recruiting

Testing medications to reduce scarring after head and neck cancer radiation

Plain-English translation of NCT06912763 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

After radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, some patients develop scarring and swelling in the neck and jaw area that can make it hard to swallow or move their head. This trial is testing five different medications—Pravastatin, combined with Vitamin E, , Pirfenidone, and a control group receiving standard care—to see if any of them can reduce or reverse this scarring and swelling.

Scarring after radiation is a common problem that doesn't have a proven treatment yet. Researchers want to find a medication that can help prevent or improve this scarring so patients can recover better quality of life after cancer treatment.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you were treated with radiation therapy (at least 30 Gray dose) to your neck for head and neck cancer and are now cancer-free
you developed noticeable scarring or swelling in your neck at least 6 months after your radiation ended
you are not pregnant and either male or post-menopausal
you do not have active liver disease, a history of heart attack or severe heart disease, or diabetes
you do not have allergies to statins (cholesterol medications) or xanthine derivatives (caffeine-like compounds)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have active liver disease, cirrhosis, or a history of alcoholism
you have a history of severe muscle disease or rhabdomyolysis
you have had a recent heart attack or have severe coronary artery disease
you are allergic to statins or xanthine derivatives
you cannot safely have an MRI scan

What participation looks like

You will be randomly assigned to take one of the five medications or receive standard care without a new medication for 12 months. During this time, you'll have clinic visits where doctors will examine your neck for scarring and swelling, you may have imaging tests like MRI or swallowing studies, and you'll fill out surveys about how you're feeling. At 12 months, doctors will measure whether your scarring and swelling have improved.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 21, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas