Abstract
BackgroundOral mucositis (OM) is a severe complication cancer patients undergo when treated with chemoradiotherapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy also known as low-level laser therapy has been increasingly used for the treatment of such oral toxicity. The aim of this review is to discuss the mechanisms of photobiomodulation (PBM) regarding OM prevention and treatment, and more precisely to focus on the effect of PBM on tumor and healthy cells.MethodsMEDLINE/PubMed, and google scholar were searched electronically. Selected studies were focusing on PBM effects on tumor and healthy cells.ResultsPBM interactions with the tissue and additional mechanism in OM therapy were detailed in this review. Moreover, this review highlighted a controversy about the carcinogenic effect of PBM. Indeed, Many studies reported that PBM could enhance malignant cell proliferation; suggesting that PBM would have no protective effect. In addition to acting on cancer cells, PBM may damage healthy cells.ConclusionMore prospective studies are needed to assess the effect of PBM on cancer cells in order to improve its use for OM prevention and treatment.
Highlights
Oral mucositis (OM) is a severe complication cancer patients undergo when treated with chemora‐ diotherapy
Almost all patients undergoing Radiation Therapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy suffer from complications and adjacent tissue damage
The aim of this review is to discuss the mechanisms of PhotoBioModulation (PBM) regarding oral mucositis prevention and treatment, and more precisely to focus on the effect of PBM on tumor and healthy cells
Summary
Oral mucositis (OM) is a severe complication cancer patients undergo when treated with chemora‐ diotherapy. Acute complications include Oral Mucositis (OM), pain, dysphagia, infections, salivary changes, dysgeusia, and dermatitis All these oral toxicities can potentially lead to treatment interruption, dose-limiting toxicity, and eventually a lower quality of life for the patient. Mucositis is the inflammation and ulceration of the superficial membrane overlying the digestive tract It results from the disruption of rapidly dividing epithelial progenitor cells. Complete replacement of the epithelial cell layer is around 4 to 8 days whereas in sick OM, it takes about 20 days to initialize and heal. Such complication has a significant impact on patient’s quality of life, treatment outcomes as well as health care cost.
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