TASTY taste-steering for chemotherapy-related taste changes
Taste Steering in Patients With Cancer Who Are Treated With Chemotherapy: a Multicentre Randomized Intervention Trial
This trial tests whether an at-home 'taste steering' program helps adults on chemotherapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic testicular cancer, or stage II–IV diffuse large B cell lymphoma enjoy food more.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 201 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Medical Center Groningen Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, prednisone |
| Locations | 11 sites (Amsterdam and 10 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07258563 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This multicenter, non-blinded randomized trial uses a parallel cluster design by hospital across 12 centers in the Netherlands to compare at-home taste steering versus usual care. Hospitals are randomized as clusters to avoid cross-contamination between patients in different arms. Participants complete online questionnaires and undergo taste and smell tests plus saliva collection at baseline, at onset of taste or smell alterations (week 0), and after six weeks, while the intervention group receives tailored at-home taste-steering guidance and the control group receives standard care. The trial enrolls adults starting chemotherapy for specified cancers who can eat solids and meet nutrition and mucositis criteria.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–70 who are about to start chemotherapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic testicular cancer, or stage II–IV diffuse large B cell lymphoma, can eat solid foods, and later develop subjective taste changes are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients with pre-existing taste or smell problems, prior head or neck radiotherapy, those on enteral or parenteral feeding, pregnant patients, or people with severe oral mucositis or other study exclusions are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, taste steering could help people on chemotherapy enjoy food more and maintain better nutrition and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches such as dietary counseling and smell/taste retraining have shown mixed results in chemotherapy-related taste changes, making at-home taste steering a relatively novel intervention with limited prior evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 and ≤70 years * Indication to start chemotherapy for: * Metastatic triple negative breast cancer * Metastatic testicular cancer * Stage II-IV diffuse large B cell lymphoma * Chemotherapy scheduled to start in the next 6 weeks * Consuming solid foods and drinks is possible * ≤50% of recommended daily intake in kcal consists of oral nutritional supplements * Oral mucositis grade ≤2 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0) * Ability to comply with all protocol-required actions * Written informed consent * For the intervention phase only: subjective change in taste since start of chemotherapy Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Currently experiencing taste or smell problems * Previous or current radiotherapy of head and neck region * Enteral feeding through tube or parenteral feeding * Participation in another clinical trial aimed at preventing or treating taste and/or smell alterations * Chronic (\>1 month) high dose corticosteroids (\>10 mg prednisone/day or equivalent).
Where this trial is running
Amsterdam and 10 other locations
- Amsterdam UMC — Amsterdam, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- Rijnstate Ziekenhuis — Arnhem, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Van Weel-Bethesda Ziekenhuis — Dirksland, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Ziekenhuisvoorzieningen Gelderse Vallei — Ede, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- University Medical Center Groningen — Groningen, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- Martini Ziekenhuis — Groningen, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- Radboud University Medical Center — Nijmegen, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Ikazia Ziekenhuis — Rotterdam, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- Ommelander Ziekenhuis Groningen — Scheemda, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- Maxima Medisch Centrum — Veldhoven, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Isala Klinieken — Zwolle, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: J. J. de Haan, MD, PhD — University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Medical Oncology
- Study coordinator: J. J. de Haan, MD, PhD
- Email: j.j.de.haan@umcg.nl
- Phone: +31 50 361 2821
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.