Oral Cancer Patch Produced High Response Rates
A new cisplatin-releasing patch helped patients with early-stage oral cancer avoid surgery in a recent clinical trial.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cancer
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In a phase 2 clinical trial, a nanoengineered topical patch containing the chemotherapy agent cisplatin achieved a 95.5% pathologic complete response rate in patients with early-stage oral cancer. Patients who received this treatment were able to avoid planned surgical interventions.
Why it matters
This approach offers a potential way to treat early oral lesions while preserving healthy tissue and avoiding the functional impacts often associated with traditional oral surgery. By delivering medication directly to the lesion, the treatment appears to limit systemic exposure to chemotherapy.
In a phase 2 trial of 22 evaluable patients, the PRV111 topical patch achieved a 95.5% pathologic complete response rate. Results were observed over a median follow-up of 14 months, with no recurrences reported during this period.
The players
City of Hope National Medical Center
A comprehensive cancer center participating as a clinical trial site.
Miami Cancer Institute
A specialized facility involved in testing this oral cancer treatment.
University of Chicago
An academic medical center serving as a clinical trial participant.
Cleveland Clinic
A large multi-specialty academic medical center evaluating the topical patch.
The details
The treatment process involves applying a permeation enhancer solution to the target area followed by the PRV111 patch, which delivers 1.5 mg/cm2 of cisplatin per visit. The patch allows for high local concentrations of the drug while maintaining negligible systemic levels. This method successfully treated mucosa, which healed without scarring, and in one case, successfully downstaged carcinoma in situ to low-grade dysplasia.
Timeline
14 months was the median follow-up period for the study patients.
21 months is the longest ongoing response duration recorded.
October 2026 is the estimated primary completion date for the study.
Health Landscape
This development represents a departure from traditional surgical management of early-stage oral cancer toward minimally invasive, organ-sparing therapy. It aligns with ongoing efforts in oncology to reduce the morbidity associated with aggressive surgical interventions for localized lesions.
This treatment is currently being evaluated in clinical settings and is not a standard-of-care option for the general public. Patients managing early-stage oral lesions should discuss the latest therapeutic options and potential clinical trial eligibility with their oncology team.
The takeaway
Topical chemotherapy patches may eventually provide a non-surgical alternative for managing early oral cancer. Maintain routine oral health screenings to detect lesions early, as timely diagnosis remains critical for successful treatment outcomes.
Further reading
Learn more about new treatment approaches in our Cancer section.
More information
View the Clinical trial registry page for detailed study information.
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Would you prefer non-surgical patch treatments over traditional surgery for early-stage cancer?
