Bitter Taste Receptors in Oropharynx Cancer

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Oropharynx Cancer
• Interventions: Procedure: Biopsy

• Registration Number: NCT05211427
• Lead Sponsor: Thomas Hummel

Brief Summary

The aim of this work is to investigate the expression of the bitter taste receptors in p16-positive and negative oropharyngeal carcinomas (in comparison to healthy, local tissue).

Detailed Description

Goal setting The aim of this work is to investigate the expression of the bitter taste receptors in p16-positive and negative oropharyngeal carcinomas (in comparison to healthy, local tissue).

The hypothesis is that oropharyngeal carcinomas express TAS2Rs and that their stimulation can induce apoptosis. The lower expression of certain TAS2Rs in the tumor cells could represent protection from apoptosis by stimulation with the bitter ligands. Alternatively, it could polymorphisms of the bitter taste receptors, which can influence their function independently of the expression. In order to address the question of general bitter sensitivity in more detail, the investigators are planning to carry out a bitter taste test on the test subjects.

methodology As this is a pilot study, the investigators limit the number of subjects to 10 patients with p-16 positive and negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and 10 patients with acute recurrent tonsillitis or other benign pathology in pharynx. The expression analysis is carried out using qPCR and possibly immunohistochemical methods. Taste strips are used for the taste tests.

Cognitive interest The results of this study will provide important insight into the pathophysiology of oropharyngeal cancers and possibly all TAS2R-expressing cancers. In addition, this and further studies can create a theoretical basis for new therapeutic methods for this group of diseases.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-03-23
• Study First Submitted: 2022-01-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-01-26
• Study First Posted: 2022-01-27
• Status Verified: 2023-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-03-14
• Last Update Posted: 2023-03-15
• Primary Completion: 2025-02
• Study Completion: 2025-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Oropharynx SCC for the patient group
• signed informed consent for all

Exclusion Criteria

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Patients	Biopsy	Patients with oropharynx cancer
Healthy subjects	Biopsy	Patients with non malignant pharynx pathology

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Expression of TAS2-Receptors	The day of surgery and the day before	relative concentration of TAS2Rs in mucosa and tumor

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Smell and Taste Center, University Klinik Dresden; 🇩🇪 Dresden, Saxony, Germany