Current state and prospects of using low-energy laser radiation for early radiation damage in the treatment of head and neck tumors
https://doi.org/10.17650/3034-2473-2025-2-2-27-33
Abstract
Low-energy laser radiation, having anti-inflammatory, biostimulating and analgesic effects, can be used for the prevention and treatment of radiation erythema of the skin and post-radiation mucositis.
We analyzed publications devoted to the use of laser therapy in patients with head and neck tumors undergoing radiation and chemoradiation therapy.
To date, there are no standardized parameters for the technique of using laser radiation for preventive and therapeutic purposes in case of radiation damage to the skin and mucous membrane. All this requires further study of the parameters of using low-energy laser therapy, both for the treatment of radiation complications in patients with head and neck tumors, and for the prevention of the frequency and severity of early and late radiation injuries.
About the Authors
Sevil B. AlievaRussian Federation
Sevil Bagaturovna Alieva.
24, Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115478.
Igor A. Zaderenko
Russian Federation
24, Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115478.
Marina V. Chernykh
Russian Federation
24, Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115478.
Dmitriy I. Fedoseenko
Russian Federation
24, Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115478.
References
1. Dunaev A.V. Physico-technical fundamentals of low-intensity laser therapy. Moscow: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2012. 286 p. (In Russ.).
2. Basov N.G., Prokhorov A.M. Application of molecular beams to radiospectroscopic study of rotational molecules spectra. J Exp Theor Phys 1955;27:431–8.
3. Schawlow A., Townes C. Infrared and optical masers. Phys Rev 1958;112(6):1940–9. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRev.112.1940
4. Application of radio-electronic devices in biology and medicine. Collection of articles. Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Institute of Problems of Oncology. Kiev: Nauk. dumka, 1976. 376 p. (In Russ.).
5. Mester E., Ludány G., Sellyei M. et al. [Studies on the inhibiting and activating effects of laser beams (In German)]. Langenbecks Arch Chir 1968;322:1022–7. DOI: 10.1007/BF02453990
6. Buentzel J., Glatzel M., Frohlidi D. et al. Late toxicities due to multimodal treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). Radiother Oncol 2004;73(suppl 1):abst.716. DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.05.002
7. Sonis S.T. A biological approach to mucositis. J Support Oncol 2004;2(1):21–32; discussion 35–6.
8. Trotti A., Bellm L.A., Epstein J.B. et al. Mucositis incidence, severity and associated outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy: a systematic literature review. Radiother Oncol 2003;66(3):253–62. DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(02)00404-8
9. Elting L.S., Keefe D.M., Sonis S.T. et al. Patient-reported measurements of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Cancer 2008;113(10):2704–13. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.23898
10. Russi E.G., Raber-Durlacher J.E., Sonis S.T. Local and systemic pathogenesis and consequences of regimen-induced inflammatory responses in patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiation. Mediat Inflamm 2014;2014:518261. DOI: 10.1155/2014/518261
11. Salvo N., Barnes E., van Draanen J. et al. Prophylaxis and management of acute radiation-induced skin reactions: a systematic review of the literature. Curr Oncol 2010;17(4):94–112. DOI: 10.3747/co.v17i4.493
12. Hymes S.R., Strom E.A., Fife C. Radiation dermatitis: clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and treatment 2006. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;54(1):28–46. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.08.054
13. Antunes H.S., Herchenhorn D., Small I.A. et al. Phase III trial of low-level laser therapy to prevent oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Radiother Oncol 2013;109(2):297–302. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2013.08.010
14. Bernier J., Bonner J., Vermorken J.B. et al. Consensus guidelines for the management of radiation dermatitis and coexisting acne-like rash in patients receiving radiotherapy plus EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Ann Oncol 2008;19(1):142–9. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdm400
15. Gobbo M., Rico V., Marta G.N. et al. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2023;31(4):227. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-07673-y
16. Zhang X., Li H., Li Q. et al. Application of red light phototherapy in the treatment of radioactive dermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer World J Surg Oncol 2018;16(1):222. DOI: 10.1186/s12957-018-1522-3
17. Park J.H., Byun H.J., Lee J.H. et al. Feasibility of photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of radiodermatitis: a single-institution pilot study. Lasers Med Sci 2020;35(5):1119–27. DOI: 10.1007/s10103-019-02930-1
18. Robijns J., Lodewijckx J., Claes S. et al. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients (DERMISHEAD trial). Radiother Oncol 2021;158:268–75. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.03.002
19. Gouvêia de Lima A., Villar R.G., Castro G. Jr. et al. Oral mucositis prevention by low-level laser therapy in head and neck cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a phase III randomized study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2012;82(1):270–5. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.10.012
20. Carvalho C.G., Medeiros-Filho J.B., Ferreira M.C. Guide for health professionals addressing oral care for individuals in oncological treatment based on scientific evidence. Support Care Cancer 2018;26(8):2651–61. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4111-7
21. Gautam A.P., Fernandes D.J., Vidyasagar M.S., Maiya G.A. Low level helium neon laser therapy for chemoradiotherapy induced oral mucositis in oral cancer patients – a randomized controlled trial. Oral Oncol 2012;48(9):893–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2012.03.008
22. Zyryanov B.N., Yevtushenko V.A., Kitsmanyuk Z.D. Low-intensity laser therapy in oncology. Tomsk: Scientific and technical translations, 1998. 335 p. (In Russ.).
23. Jadaud E., Bensadoun R. Low-level laser therapy: a standard of supportive care for cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients? Laser Ther 2012;21(4):297–303. DOI: 10.5978/islsm.12-RE-01
24. Law P.P.W., Cheing G.L.Y., Tsui A.Y.Y. Does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improve the physical performance of people with knee osteoarthritis? J Clin Rheumatol 2004;10(6):295–9. DOI: 10.1097/01.rhu.0000147047.77460.b0
25. Santana-Blank L., Rodríguez-Santana E., Santana Rodríguez K.E. Concurrence of emerging developments in photobiomodulation and cancer. Photomed Laser Surg 2012;30(11):615–6. DOI: 10.1089/pho.2012.3374
26. Migliorati C., Hewson I., Lalla R.V. et al. Systematic review of laser and other light therapy for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients. Supportive Care Cancer 2013;21(1):333–41. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-012-1605-6
27. Brandão T.B., Morais-Faria K., Ribeiro A.C.P. et al. Locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with photobiomodulation for prevention of oral mucositis: retrospective outcomes and safety analyses. Support Care Cancer 2018;26(7):2417–23. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4046-z
28. Antunes H.S., Herchenhorn D., Small I.A. et al. Long-term survival of a randomized phase III trial of head and neck cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation therapy with or without low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to prevent oral mucositis. Oral Oncol 2017;71:11–5. DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2017.05.018
29. Soares R.G., Farias L.C., da Silva Menezes A.S. et al. Treatment of mucositis with combined 660- and 808-nm-wavelength low-level laser therapy reduced mucositis grade, pain, and use of analgesics: a parallel, single-blind, two-arm controlled study. Lasers Med Sci 2018;33(8):1813–9. DOI: 10.1007/s10103-018-2549-y
30. Ng G.Y., Fung D.T., Leung M.C., Guo X. Comparison of single and multiple applications of GaAlAs laser on rat medial collateral ligament repair. Lasers Surg Med 2004;34(3):285–9. DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20015
31. Simões A., Eduardo F.P., Luiz A.C. et al. Laser phototherapy as topical prophylaxis against head and neck cancer radiotherapyinduced oral mucositis: comparison between low and high/ low power lasers. Lasers Surg Med 2009;41(4):264–70. DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20758
32. Legouté F., Bensadoun R.-J., Seegers V. et al. Low-level laser therapy in treatment of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer: results of a randomised, triple blind, multicentre phase III trial. Radiat Oncol 2019;14(1):83. DOI: 10.1186/s13014-019-1292-2
Review
For citations:
Alieva S.B., Zaderenko I.A., Chernykh M.V., Fedoseenko D.I. Current state and prospects of using low-energy laser radiation for early radiation damage in the treatment of head and neck tumors. Supportive Therapy in Oncology. 2025;2(2):27-33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17650/3034-2473-2025-2-2-27-33