N/A
N=213
Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes in Promoting Smoking Cessation in Daily and Intermittent Cigarette Smokers
Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma · Tobacco-Related Carcinoma
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02964182 ↗Enrolled (actual)
213
Serious AEs
0.5%
Results posted
Dec 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Usual Brand Cigarettes Per Day — 15.803; 2.1563; 1.8353; 1.4931 Cigarettes per Day
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Cigarette (Drug); Nicotine Replacement (Drug); Questionnaire Administration (Other); Survey Administration (Other); Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarette (Drug); ECIG-Hi (Device); ECIG-Lo (Device)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 21+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Primary completion
- Mar 2025
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Usual Brand Cigarettes Per Day |
15.803; 2.1563; 1.8353; 1.4931; 12.6171; 2.6665 | — |
| PRIMARY Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes Per Day |
15.7421; 10.2652; 10.5811; 12.8014; 6.5151; 6.2979 | — |
| PRIMARY Total Nicotine Equivalents (TNE) |
25.621411; 5.37663; 8.418756; 11.388661; 35.052048; 5.414214 | — |
Summary
This trial studies what would happen if the nicotine levels in cigarettes are greatly reduced, but electronic cigarettes containing different amount of nicotine are available. Different levels of nicotine may effect certain behaviors, including withdrawal symptoms, nicotine cravings, and mood and may lead to changes in smoking behavior in current daily and intermittent smokers..
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Sign consent and agree to all study procedures
- Have an address where he/she can receive mail
- Have a device available to conduct telehealth visit (e.g., smartphone, computer, tablet, internet access, etc.)
- Able to follow verbal and written instructions in English
- Willing and able to complete two spirometry sessions (this criterion waived during COVID-19 pandemic)
- Be the only participant in their household
- Interested in trying novel nicotine products
- Daily smokers: >= 1 cigarette/little cigar per day
- Intermittent smokers: >= 1 cigarette/little cigar per day 4 to 27 days per month
- Agrees to comply with all MD Anderson institutional policies related to COVID-19 screening prior to each in-person research visit
- The individual agrees to not engage in study procedures or interactions with study personnel while operating a vehicle
Exclusion Criteria
- Unwilling to refrain from other e-cigarette use for the duration of the study, other than what is provided to them for study purposes
- Current/recent use of certain medications:
- Smoking cessation meds (past 90 days; e.g., wellbutrin, bupropion, Zyban, nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], Chantix)
- Certain medications to treat depression (last 14 days; e.g., amitriptyline)
- A case by case determination will be made by study physician for medication on the precautionary list, (e.g. nitroglycerin)
- Self-reported daily use of opioids for 30 days or more on phone screen or at screening is exclusionary however pro re nata (PRN) use is allowed (e.g., 3 to 7 days per week or less or if more frequent, use less than a month's duration
- Unstable medical condition as determined by the medical team
- Self-reported bronchial or respiratory infection in the last 14 days (this criterion waived during COVID-19 pandemic)
- Subject's spirometry forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) percentage reading is < 50 (severe to very severe obstruction) (this criterion waived during COVID-19 pandemic)
- Self-reported abnormal heart rhythms or cardiovascular disease (stroke, chest pain, heart attack) in the last 3 months
- Meet criteria for major depressive syndrome or suicidality on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
- Self report of past or current diagnosis of bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder
- Self-reported other tobacco use besides cigarettes or little cigars (e.g., hookah, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, pipes, cigars, etc.) on 10 or more days in the last month
- Recent (past 90 days), current, or planned (within the next 45 days) involvement in smoking cessation activities
- Positive urine pregnancy test at screening. Women who are two years post-menopausal, or who have had a tubal ligation or a partial or full hysterectomy will not be subject to a urine pregnancy test
- Women that are breastfeeding or of childbearing potential and not protected by a medically acceptable, effective method of birth control while enrolled in the study. Medically acceptable contraceptives include:
- Approved hormonal contraceptives (such as birth control pills, patches, implants or injections)
- Barrier methods (such as condom or diaphragm) used with a spermicide, or
- An intrauterine device (IUD)
- Contraceptives sold for emergency use after unprotected sex are not acceptable methods for routine use
- Subject considered by the investigator to be unsuitable to participate in the study (e.g., due to cognitive deficits or instability to last the entire duration of the study)
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02964182). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.