Using atorvastatin to prevent hearing loss in head and neck cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
Official title: Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10911965 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether atorvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering medication, can help protect your hearing while you receive cisplatin chemotherapy for head and neck cancer, and it’s for patients who are about to start this treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $543,623 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DC020452-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911965 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are scheduled to receive cisplatin-based chemoradiation therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already taking statins or those with pre-existing hearing loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of atorvastatin, a commonly prescribed medication for lowering cholesterol, to reduce hearing loss caused by cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug used to treat head and neck cancer. The study will involve patients who are about to start cisplatin-based chemoradiation therapy and are not currently taking any statins. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin or a placebo during their treatment. The goal is to determine if atorvastatin can lessen the severity and incidence of hearing loss, thereby improving the quality of life for cancer survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with statins in reducing cisplatin-induced hearing loss in animal models and retrospective human data.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmitt, Nicole Cherie — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Schmitt, Nicole Cherie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Atorvastatin to Reduce Hearing Loss from Cisplatin in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
This study tests whether the cholesterol medicine atorvastatin can lessen hearing loss caused by cisplatin in adults undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.