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Phromratanapongse P ,
Suntornpong N ,
Lorvidhaya V ,
Sukthomya V ,
Chitapanarux I ,
Tesavibul C ,
Swangsilpa T ,
Khorprasert C ,
Shotelersuk K ,
Kongthanarat Y ,
Panichevaluk A ,
Chiewvit S ,
Pusuwan P ,
Aekmahachai M ,
Ratchadara S ,
Sirilipoche S ,
Saengsuda Y Background: Amifostine has a potential role for salivary gland protection in head and neck cancer patients who had radiotherapy.
Material and Method: Sixty-seven head and neck cancer patients were randomized to receive radiotherapy or radiotherapy plus Amifostine. The efficacy of the treatment was determined by a questionnaire evaluating dryness of mouth and the oral comfort, the RTOG/EORTC acute/late radiation morbidity scoring criteria, collection of the whole saliva and the 99mTc-pertecnetate scintigraphy of the salivary glands.
Results: Amifostine significantly reduced the mean questionnaire scores from 6.49 to 3.73, the incidence of grade ≥2 mucositis from 75% to 36% and acute xerostomia from 82% to 39%. The salivary gland function returned to normal at a rate of 36.3% in the Amifostine group versus 9.1% in the control group.
Conclusion: Amifostine is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of acute mucositis, acute and late xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.
Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Radiotherapy, Amifostine, Mucositis, Xerostomia