Abstract
The treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is particularly complex due to its aggressive behavior, location, the patient’s age, and its spread at diagnosis. In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been introduced in different medical fields; however, its application, in patients suffering from OSCC for palliative support or to induce analgesia, has been hotly debated due to the possibility that the cell growth stimuli induced by PBM could lead to a worsening of the lesions. The aim of this study is to review the literature to observe the available data investigating the effect of PBM on cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. A review was conducted on the PubMed and Scopus databases. A total of twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were therefore included for quality assessment and data extraction. The analysis showed that the clinical use of PBM is still only partially understood and is, therefore, controversial. Some authors stated that it could be contraindicated for clinical use in patients suffering from SCC, while others noted that it could have beneficial effects. According to the data that emerged from this review, it is possible to hypothesize that there are possibilities for PBM to play a beneficial role in treating cancer patients, but further evidence about its clinical efficacy and the identification of protocols and correct dosages is still needed.
Highlights
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a public health problem and a major psychological threat and adaptation issue for patients
Even though the surgical techniques and the diagnostic tools have been enhanced over the years, there has been no beneficial effect in terms of OSCC prognosis, so that the differences in mortality rates in the different geographical areas are attributable to variations in the exposure to risk factors [2]
It has become largely evident that adjunct therapies to manage the consequences of the therapeutic protocols for these patients are no longer deferable, and many authors have suggested the possibility of investigating the potential beneficial effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) in OSCC patients [4]
Summary
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a public health problem and a major psychological threat and adaptation issue for patients. It is a disease in which dentists and dental hygienists can play a decisive role in early detection and supportive disease management. The 90% of the lip and oral cancer is represented by OSCC. The estimated number of new cases with oral and lip cancer was 354,864 worldwide and 3967 in Italy. The estimated number of deaths in 2018 due to oral and lip cancer were 177,384 all over the world and 1489 in Italy [1,2,3]. It has become largely evident that adjunct therapies to manage the consequences of the therapeutic protocols for these patients are no longer deferable, and many authors have suggested the possibility of investigating the potential beneficial effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) in OSCC patients [4]
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