Low-level Laser Therapy to Prevent Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Patients

Phase III Trial of Low-level Laser Therapy to Prevent Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Submitted to Concurrent Chemoradiation

Oral mucositis remains a limiting factor in in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas patients treated with chemoradiation leading to pain, dysphagia, and weight loss. Low-level laser therapy emerges as a promising, preventive therapy of chemoradiation-induced OM. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in reducing the incidence and/or severity of oral mucositis.

Assuming oral mucositis grade 3 for placebo 0.4 (P0); laser group 0.15 (P1) ; β=0.2; α=0.05, sample size was 94 pts. From Jun 2007 to Dec 2010, 47 laser group and 47 placebo patients bearer of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx entered a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial. chemoradiotherapy consisted of conventional radiotherapy 70.2 Gray (Gy) (1.8Gy/d, 5 times/wk) + concurrent cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. The primary end point was the incidence of grade 3-4 oral mucositis. The Low-level laser therapy used daily, was a diode indium phosphide, gallium and aluminum (InGaAlP), 660nm-100 milliwatts (mW)-4 Joules (J)/cm²(DMC, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil). Oral mucositis evaluation was done by WHO and Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS) scale.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Nasopharynx, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oropharynx, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Hypopharynx

Patients in the placebo group received the same treatment during the same time, but in this case the laser tip produced no light.

The investigators used a Low Level Laser Therapy, diode laser (DMC, São Paulo, Brazil) InGaAlP (indium phosphide, gallium and aluminum), with 100mW, 4J/cm ², with an area of 0.24 cm ². The laser was daily applied by a dentist and touched the mucosa of the lips, right and left buccal mucosa, left and right lateral tongue border, buccal floor and ventral tongue, totaling nine points per region.

Diode laser (DMC,São Paulo, Brazil) InGaAlP (indium phosphide, gallium and aluminum), with 100 mW, 4J/cm ², with an area of 0.24 cm ². The laser was daily applied by a dentist and touched the mucosa of the lips, right and left buccal mucosa, left and right lateral tongue border, buccal floor and ventral tongue, totaling nine points per region.

The placebo (DMC, São Paulo, Brazil) was daily applied by a dentist and touched the mucosa of the lips, right and left buccal mucosa, left and right lateral tongue border, buccal floor and ventral tongue, totaling nine points per region.Patients in the placebo group received the same treatment during the same time, but in this case the laser tip produced no light.

The oral cavities of all patients were evaluated daily, from the first day until the last day of treatment. We used the scales of mucositis of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain assessment.

Oral Mucositis Survival Free, Pain, Opioid Treatment, Hospitalization, Treatment Interruption, Treatment Delay, Patient Weight Loss, Nasogastric Tube or of a Gastrostomy.

Oral mucositis survival free, pain, opioid treatment, hospitalization, treatment interruption, treatment delay, patient weight loss, nasogastric tube or of a gastrostomy.The oral cavities of all patients were evaluated, from the first day to the last day of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 18 years Histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx) Candidates for surgery or treatment for organ preservation Performance status (PS) of 0 or 1 according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Indication for radiotherapy and concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy Oral mucosa intact Agree to follow the protocol of oral hygiene Informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Patients using medication for treatment and or prevention of mucositis Patients incapable of treatment compliance or of performing the protocol of oral hygiene

Antunes HS, Schluckebier LF, Herchenhorn D, Small IA, Araujo CM, Viegas CM, Rampini MP, Ferreira EM, Dias FL, Teich V, Teich N, Ferreira CG. Cost-effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in head and neck cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation. Oral Oncol. 2016 Jan;52:85-90. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.10.022. Epub 2015 Nov 11.