Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss Among Individuals With Head and Neck Cancer

NCT04915183 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 224

Last updated 2026-05-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

Cisplatin is used to treat head and neck cancer. People who take this drug are at risk for hearing loss. Atorvastatin is a drug used to treat high cholesterol. It might reduce the risk of cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Objective:

To find out if atorvastatin reduces hearing loss in people treated with cisplatin and radiation.

Eligibility:

People ages 18 and older with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who will undergo treatment with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation

Design:

Participants will be screened with their medical records.

Participants currently taking a cholesterol-lowering statin medication are invited to participate in the observational arm of the study. Those not taking such a medication are invited to participate in the interventional arm of the study.

All participants will have 3 study visits for the purpose of evaluating hearing. One before starting cisplatin treatment, one within 3 months of completing cancer treatment, and one within 2 years of completing cancer treatment. They will have tympanograms. A small flexible tip will be placed in the ear canal. A puff of air will be delivered to assess mobility of the ear drum. They will have hearing tests. They will wear headphones. They will listen to tones that vary in loudness. They will be asked to indicate when they hear a sound. They will complete 3 questionnaires at the time of each hearing test.

Participants will have 2 visits for blood tests. These will occur upon consent and 12 weeks after. They will be randomly assigned to take the study drug or placebo orally, once daily. They will take it during cisplatin treatment and for 3 months after treatment.

Long-term follow up will include a chart review 2 years after participants complete their cisplatin therapy.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

Placebo

Placebo will be formulated to also contain a white powder such that the atorvastatin and placebo are indistinguishable even if a capsule is opened.

DRUG

Atorvastatin

Subjects will be provided with atorvastatin (40 mg) or placebo to be taken daily by mouth or by feeding tube. The tablets may be taken whole or crushed according to patient swallowing capabilities and preference.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Lisa L Cunningham, Ph.D. · National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
100 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-07-10
Primary Completion
2028-08-01
Completion
2030-08-31
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04915183 on ClinicalTrials.gov