Oral Cancer Patch Produced High Response Rate
A nanoengineered cisplatin patch led to complete response in 95.5% of early-stage oral cancer patients in a recent trial.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cancer
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In a phase 2 clinical trial, a new topical patch called PRV111 achieved a 95.5% pathologic complete response rate in patients with early-stage oral cancer. The treatment allowed participants to avoid standard-of-care surgeries, with no recurrences observed during the median follow-up period.
Why it matters
This localized delivery system potentially eliminates the need for invasive surgeries, which often cause significant scarring and functional impairment in oral cancer patients. By delivering cisplatin directly to the site, the method minimizes systemic exposure and side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.
The study recorded a 95.5% complete response rate among 22 evaluable patients, with 85% of treatment-related adverse effects classified as mild. Patients received a cisplatin dose of 1.5 mg/cm2 per treatment visit.
The players
City of Hope National Medical Center
This is a private, not-for-profit clinical research center and hospital that serves as a participating site for the PRV111 clinical trial.
Miami Cancer Institute
This institution is part of a regional health network that provides advanced cancer care and serves as a clinical testing site for this trial.
Cleveland Clinic
This academic medical center is involved in the study as a site for evaluating the efficacy of the cisplatin-releasing topical patch.
The details
Before the patch is applied, clinicians use a permeation enhancer solution to prepare the mucosa, ensuring the effective release of cisplatin into the lesion. Treated areas healed without scarring, and systemic exposure to the chemotherapy drug remained negligible throughout the trial.
Timeline
Median follow-up for the trial participants was 14 months.
The longest ongoing response observed in the study is 21 months.
The estimated primary completion date for the study is October 2026.
The Big Picture
This development challenges the standard-of-care surgical excision for early-stage oral carcinoma, which has long been the primary method for treating these lesions. By replacing invasive procedures with localized chemotherapy, the therapy signals a potential shift toward organ-sparing treatments.
This treatment offers a non-surgical alternative that may preserve the form and function of the oral cavity for cancer patients. Patients in the trial avoided surgeries and experienced largely mild side effects, suggesting a future with less invasive recovery periods.
The takeaway
This study highlights the potential for nanoengineered topical treatments to replace invasive surgeries for localized cancer lesions. Patients should consult their oncologists to determine if they are candidates for future clinical trials involving organ-sparing chemotherapy delivery.
What happens next
The study has an estimated primary completion date of October 2026, when further longitudinal data on the efficacy and safety of the PRV111 patch will be available.
Further reading
For more information on current treatment trends, visit the Cancer section.
More information
Review the full study details on the Clinical trial registry page.
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