NIDCD Study Using Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss
Individuals undergoing cisplatin therapy are at risk for developing significant, permanent hearing loss. Doctors at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) are investigating the effectiveness of atorvastatin (a drug used to lower "bad" cholesterol and fats such as LDL, and triglycerides, and raise "good" cholesterol such as HDL, in the blood) at reducing the incidence of hearing loss in patients treated with cisplatin for head and neck cancer. Doctors will provide a daily dose of atorvastatin or a placebo to potential volunteers undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy to treat their head and neck cancer. Hearing changes will be compared between those taking atorvastatin and those taking placebo.
Who can participate? Adults newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer and scheduled to undergo cisplatin-based chemotherapy with concurrent radiation. Potential volunteers who have already started cisplatin chemotherapy will NOT be eligible to participate.
About the study:
- Participants will have atorvastatin (40 mg) or placebo to be taken daily by mouth or by feeding tube.
- Participation duration is about seven months with up to a 2-year follow up.
- All study-related tests, medications, and procedures are provided at no cost.
The NIH Clinical Center, America's Research Hospital, is located in Bethesda, MD, on the Metro Red Line (Medical Center stop).
For more information:
Office of Patient Recruitment
800-411-1222
TTY users dial 7-1-1
Email: ccopr@nih.gov
Or go online
Refer to NIH study # 21-DC-0002
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)