Laser therapy for radio-induced oral mucositis and skin dermatitis: Oral medicine, radiotherapy and oncology shared experience from the University of Trieste.

Authors

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Margherita Gobbo

Medical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

Margherita Gobbo, Alessandra Guglielmi, Giulia Ottaviani, Katia Rupel, Serena Zacchigna, Francesca Ciriello, Aulo Beorchia, Roberto Di Lenarda, Matteo Biasotto

Organizations

Medical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy, Ospedali Riuniti, Trieste, Italy, Medical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Trieste, Italy, Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy, Radiotherapy Department, Ospedale Maggiore, Trieste, Italy

Research Funding

No funding sources reported

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) and dermatitis (RD) are serious side effects of radiotherapy (RT), often leading to its suspension, need for analgesics and enteral/parenteral nutrition. Laser-therapy is becoming a recommended option for mucosal lesions and has also been tested for skin affections. This prospective study investigates the effect of Laser-therapy (HPLT) on RT-induced OM and proposes an off-label use of HPLT to treat RD in breast-cancer patients and in RT-treated anal-carcinoma patients Methods: 53 cancer patients, during/after RT and/or chemotherapy, affected by OM, were treated with HPLT during 4 consecutive days (970nm, 2,5W, 35-6000Hz, 240s). Assessment of OM (WHO-SCALE: Grading objective Scale), pain (VAS: Visual Analogue Scale), functional ability, subjective parameters, site/severity of OM were recorded weekly for 21 days. 27 breast-cancer patients and 2 anal-carcinoma patients affected by RD were treated by HPLT every other day for 2 weeks (970nm/660nm, 2-1000Hz, 6W, 480s) and monitored weekly for one month for grade, discomfort, itching and bleeding. Results: Regarding OM, regressive improvement of WHO- SCALE from day 7 on, and of VAS from day 2 on (p < 0.000) was registered. All patients’ functional capacity improved on day 4 (p < 0.05). All subjective parameters improved on day 14 (p < 0.001) except voice, which improved on day 21 (p < 0.000). Ulcerations’ dimension and erythema’s severity decreased in all sites (p < 0.05). Regarding breast and anal RD, after 6 HPLT’s sessions, complete and progressive resolution of pain, bleeding and itching was registered (p < 0.002). All patients referred maximum satisfaction for receiving HPLT. Conclusions: Regardless of OM grade/site and of kind/site of tumor, HPLT was effective in healing OM. Moreover, HPLT resulted an innovative and highly effective therapy for RD, both in breast and anal lesions. To establish an effective treatment strategy for OM and RD is of paramount importance to improve life-quality of patients but can also be beneficial for the continuation of cancer therapy. Consequently, HPLT may become integral part of everyday-practice in the management of RT adverse effects.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2015 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B

Track

Biologic Basis of Symptoms and Treatment Toxicities,Psycho-oncology,End-of-Life Care,Survivorship,Evaluation and Assessment of Patient Symptoms and Quality of Life,Management/Prevention of Symptoms and Treatment Toxicities,Integration and Delivery of Palliative Care in Cancer Care,Psychosocial and Spiritual Care,Communication in Advanced Cancer

Sub Track

Treatment toxicity

Citation

J Clin Oncol 33, 2015 (suppl 29S; abstr 213)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2015.33.29_suppl.213

Abstract #

213

Poster Bd #

F15

Abstract Disclosures