Analysis of risk factors for radiation-induced oral mucositis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and prognostic value of EGF and sTREM-1

Abstract

Objective: We were dedicated to analyzing risk factors of radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EGF), soluble myeloid cell expression trigger receptor-1 (sTREM-1) and disease severity and their prognosis value. Methods: A total of 124 patients with NPC who received radiotherapy from March 2013 to November 2016 were selected, and divided into the study group (n = 68) and the control group (n = 56) regarding the presence of RIOM. The risk factors of RIOM were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression, and correlation between EGF and sTREM-1 and the severity of RIOM and their predictive value were also assessed. Results: Age (>55 years), smoking, poor oral hygiene and oral pH < 7 were risk factors for RIOM, and the use of oral mucosal protective agents was the protective factor (P < 0.05). The level of sTREM-1 increased and that of EGF reduced with the severity of the disease (P < 0.05). EGF level of patients was negatively correlated with the grade of RIOM; the combined detection of EGF and sTREM-1 levels had a greater AUC in predicting the prognosis of patients than sTREM-1 detection alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In short, age (> 55 years), smoking, poor oral hygiene, and oral PH < 7 are risk factors for RIOM for NPC. The use of oral mucosal protective agents is a protective factor. EGF and sTREM-1 levels are associated with RIOM severity and indicate predictive value for patient outcomes.