{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Intramuscular injections of human placental extract versus conventional symptomatic approaches in radiation-induced oral mucositis, in patients with head and neck cancers, on definitive chemoradiotherapy - A ray of hope?
{Author}: Prasad PMV;Chelakkot PG;Narayan GS;
{Journal}: J Cancer Res Ther
{Volume}: 20
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 2024 Apr 1
{Factor}: 1.331
{DOI}: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_2017_22
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Despite the availability of a wide range of agents, no single treatment exists for the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis, in patients, with head and neck malignancies, on radical chemoradiation; a debilitating and limiting sequela. Human placental extract is one option that has been proposed.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic benefits of human placental extract (Placentrex) in the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients on curative intent treatment for head and neck cancers with concurrent chemoradiation, and to compare the observations with other conventional approaches.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Patients presenting to the Department of Radiation Oncology, of a tertiary cancer care center, with biopsy-proven carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and hypopharynx, planned for definitive, curative intent chemoradiation, between January 2020 and June 2021, were recruited for this study. The interventional group received a deep intramuscular injection of 2 ml of Placentrex to the deltoid muscle, once-a-day from the 11th fraction of radiation till completion, on treatment and non-treatment days. The control group received supportive, symptomatic, conventional treatments for mucositis. The response was assessed every week during treatment and at the third and sixth months of follow-up and was compared.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The study comprised 26 patients, 15 in the interventional group and 11 in the control group. On completion of treatment, 40% in the interventional arm and 81.82% in the control arm had progressed to grade 2 and 3 mucositis (P < 0.05). Treatment interruption was seen in 13% in the interventional arm and 55% in the control arm (P < 0.001).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Results from this study show that human placental extract, injection Placentrex, had a significant effect in decreasing the severity of radiation-induced mucositis and thereby reducing any interruption or delay in treatment when compared to other conventional methods.