Therapeutic Benefit of Placentrex in the Management of Acute Chemo Radiation Induced Mucositis in Oral Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: A troublesome and usually unavoidable consequence of Head and Neck chemo radiation is oral<br />mucositis which decreases patients' compliance and negatively influences the outcome of therapy by increasing overall<br />treatment time. Currently, no single effective recommended treatment exists for this problem and a variety of supportive<br />care measures have been practiced with limited benefits. This study was done to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of<br />Placentrex in the management of oral mucositis seen in oral cancer patients undergoing treatment with concurrent<br />chemoradiation. Methodology: This study was carried out, as a retrospective analysis, on oral cancer patients undergoing<br />concurrent chemoradiation with weekly Cisplatin regimen treated between Oct 2015 and July 2017. All the patients<br />received 2ml of Inj Placentrex, once daily administered intramuscularly for 4 weeks, NSAIDs, topical analgesics,<br />and mouth wash as treatment for oral mucositis. The results were compared with a historical control group of 40 oral<br />cancer patients who had received treatment prior to the study period without receiving Inj Placentrex as a part of oral<br />mucositis management. Results: Over 60% of the patients in both groups were older than 60 years of age. Buccal<br />mucosa was the predominant sub site of the investigated cancer type. The addition of placentrex resulted in delay in<br />the progression of mucositis, reduction of treatment breaks, regression of pain, and improvement of dysphagia while<br />leading to no adverse effects (p<0.05). Conclusion: Placentrex appears to be a beneficial therapeutic option for the<br />management of concurrent chemo-radiation induced acute oral mucositis in oral cancer patients.