An interventional study of ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling and Smoking cessation counseling in Smoking Cessation and Micronuclei, sponsored by University of Bern. Completed at 5 sites in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-11-15.
Sponsored by University of Bern · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
--> This is a substudy of the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989). Micronuclei in buccal epithelial outcomes should be considered secondary outcomes of the main smoking cessation outcome formulated in NCT03589989.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Switzerland and still more than a quarter of the Swiss population smokes cigarettes. Recently, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; also called vaporizer, e-cigarette or electronic cigarette) have become popular with smokers who want to stop smoking or reduce their exposure to inhaled chemicals since ENDS use appears to be safer than tobacco smoking.
The micronucleus cytologic assay test was originally developed to screen for drug toxicity in bone marrow samples from mammals. The technique identifies micronuclei on smears obtained by oral cavity exfoliation and indicate genomic instability. Buccal MNs may predict cancer risk for the upper aerodigestive tract. The HUman MicroNucleus project on eXfoLiated buccal cells (HUMNXL) found MN counts gradually increased during the progression from normal mucosal to precancerous lesions to carcinoma. MN assessment discriminates between exposure to tobacco smoke in smokers and in non-smokers, and has been tested on a small number of ENDS users.
For the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989), cigarette smokers motivated to quit smoking cigarettes will be included. Participants in the intervention group will receive an ENDS and nicotine-containing e-liquids, which they will be allowed to use ad libitum. Additionally, they will receive smoking cessation counseling. Participants in the control group will receive smoking cessation counseling only. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Measures of MN frequency will test the potential effect of ENDS use on cancer-related outcomes, in particular incident of mouth-, lung- and kidney- cancers.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Known hypersensitivity or allergy to contents of the e-liquid Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding the baseline visit and during the present study where interactions are to be expected
Other: ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling
Other: Smoking cessation counseling
Participants in the intervention group will receive an ENDS and nicotine-containing e-liquids, which they will be allowed to use ad libitum. Additionally, they will receive smoking cessation counseling. Participants will be allowed to additionally use nicotine replacement therapy. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Smoking cessation counseling will be provided in person at the first clinical visit and then over the phone at the target quit date one week later and again at week 2, 4 and 8 after the target quit date. After 6, 12 and 24 months, participants will be asked to come to a clinical visit.
Participants in the control group will receive smoking cessation counseling only. Participants will be allowed to additionally use nicotine replacement therapy. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Smoking cessation counseling will be provided in person at the first clinical visit and then over the phone at the target quit date one week later and again at week 2, 4 and 8 after the target quit date. After 6, 12 and 24 months, participants will be asked to come to a clinical visit.
Frequency of buccal micronuclei_1
MN frequency will be calculated as number of cells that contain MNs divided by the total number counted. A minimum of 1000 cells will be counted per participant.
Time frame: Baseline
Frequency of buccal micronuclei_2
MN frequency will be calculated as number of cells that contain MNs divided by the total number counted. A minimum of 1000 cells will be counted per participant.
Time frame: 6 months post quit date
Frequency of buccal micronuclei_3
MN frequency will be calculated as number of cells that contain MNs divided by the total number counted. A minimum of 1000 cells will be counted per participant.
Time frame: 12 months post quit date
Frequency of buccal micronuclei_4
MN frequency will be calculated as number of cells that contain MNs divided by the total number counted. A minimum of 1000 cells will be counted per participant.
Time frame: 24 months post quit date
Change of frequency of buccal micronuclei
MN frequency will be calculated as number of cells that contain MNs divided by the total number counted. A minimum of 1000 cells will be counted per participant.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6,12, 24 months post quit date
This study is completed, as verified in Nov 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Bern