For patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation for blood cancers,a debilitating side effect known as oral mucositis – painful sores in the mouth – frequently enough significantly complicates recovery. Affecting up to 80% of these patients, oral mucositis can impede nutrition, increase the risk of infection, and prolong hospitalizations.A new clinical study, funded in part by Cancerfonden, is exploring the potential of photobiomodulation (PBM) – light therapy using LEDs and low-level lasers – to prevent and treat this distressing condition and improve patient outcomes.
Patients undergoing blood cancer treatment with hematopoietic cell transplantation often experience severely painful sores in the mouth, a common and potentially life-threatening side effect known as oral mucositis. This condition can make eating incredibly difficult, and in some cases, completely prevent it. Oral mucositis can also lead to sepsis when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream through damaged tissue.
Currently, effective preventative treatments for oral mucositis are limited for many patients. A new study is investigating whether light therapy using LED light and low-level lasers – a technique called photobiomodulation (PBM) – can reduce the number of patients who develop severe oral mucositis and the serious complications associated with it.
Oral mucositis frequently leads to prolonged hospital stays and significant patient discomfort, increasing the burden on healthcare resources and costs for both dental and medical care. Researchers believe that using PBM as a preventative measure could potentially lower these costs, reduce patient suffering, and minimize other complications related to the condition. This research is particularly important as oral mucositis significantly impacts quality of life during a vulnerable stage of cancer treatment.
“Cancerfonden and other funders are enabling us to carry out this type of very resource-intensive, patient-focused clinical study, which we are incredibly grateful for,” said Jenny Öhman.
The study is formally titled Photobiomodulation as prophylaxis and treatment for oral mucositis in patients undergoing haematopoietic cell transplantation for haematological malignancies.
