3 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This early phase 1 trial studies the use of everolimus in restoring salivary gland function in participants with locally advanced head and neck cancer after concurrent chemoradiation or radiation therapy alone.
Salivary Gland Dysfunction, Xerostomia, Head and Neck Cancer
This study will examine the types of bacteria present in the dental plaque of patients with persistent dry mouth. Saliva is essential for digestion and swallowing and for maintaining the normal mineralization of teeth. People who suffer from dry mouth usually have a significant increase in tooth decay (caries). This study will determine if this increase is due solely to reduced salivary flow or also to an increase in certain types of bacteria in the mouth. Patients participating in the following NIDCR protocols may be eligible for this study: Evaluation and Treatment of Salivary Dysfunction (84-D-0056), Natural History of Salivary Gland Dysfunction and Sjogren's Syndrome Research Project (99-D-0070), and Salivary Evaluation in Normal Volunteers (94-D-0018). Participants will have three appointments at the NIH dental clinic as follows: Visit 1 Dental examination and instruction on keeping a detailed diary of food intake. Visit 2 (1 week after visit 1) Attachment of a bacteria collection device (described below) to the side of a tooth. Visit 3 (48 hours after visit 2) Removal of the collection device, tooth cleaning and polishing, and submission of food diary. The bacteria collection device is a 4mm x 2mm x 2mm square of sterilized tooth obtained from slicing an extracted healthy tooth donated by another patient. The donated teeth are either extracted impacted third molars (wisdom teeth) or teeth extracted for teeth straightening (orthodontics). The device is heat-sterilized before being bonded to the participant's tooth. The dental cement used for bonding can be removed after 48 hours with no damage to the surface of the participant's tooth.
Xerostomia, Autoimmune Diseases
This study will examine whether transplanted stem cells can turn into salivary gland cells in stem cell recipients. If so, stem cells might be used to restore salivary gland function in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and other causes of dry mouth. People with severe dry mouth may develop difficulty swallowing, severe tooth decay, infections of the mouth and pharynx, and mouth sores. Female patients 18 years of age and older who are enrolled in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's protocol 97-H-009 or 97-H-0202 and who have received a stem cell transplant from a male donor may be eligible for this study. Five patients with graft-versus host disease (GVHD) and five without GVHD will be included. GVHD is a transplantation reaction in which the donor's cells mount an immune response against the recipient's tissues. Patients with chronic GVHD have mouth ulcerations and dry mouth similar to that of patients with Sjogren's syndrome. Five healthy female volunteers will also be enrolled. Participants will have a medical and dental history. Then, cells will be collected from the inside of the cheek (buccal cell scraping) and from the salivary glands (labial gland biopsy) as described below: Buccal cell scraping - Cells are collected from the inside of the cheek by wiping for 5 seconds with a plastic brush. Labial glands biopsy - The lower lip will be numbed and a small incision will be made on the inside of the lower lip. Six small salivary glands in the lower lip will be removed and the incision will be closed with four stitches. Cells collected from these procedures will be examined to see if donated stem cells turned into salivary gland or cheek cells. Patients will return to the clinic 5 to 10 days after the biopsy to have the stitches removed and assess healing.
Graft vs Host Disease, Sjogren's Syndrome