Study protocol for efficacy and safety of steroid-containing mouthwash to prevent chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in women with breast cancer: a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 2 study

Emerging pharmacotherapy trends in preventing and managing oral mucositis induced by chemoradiotherapy and targeted agents

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has tremendously changed the clinical outcomes and prognosis of cancer patients. Despite innovative pharmacological therapies and improved radiotherapy (RT) techniques, patients continue to suffer from side effects, of which oral mucositis (OM) is still the most impactful, especially for quality of life.

AREAS COVERED

We provide an overview of current advances in cancer pharmacotherapy and RT, in relation to their potential to cause OM, and of the less explored and more recent literature reports related to the best management of OM. We have analyzed natural/antioxidant agents, probiotics, mucosal protectants and healing coadjuvants, pharmacotherapies, immunomodulatory and anticancer agents, photobiomodulation and the impact of technology.

EXPERT OPINION

The discovery of more precise pathophysiologic mechanisms of CT and RT-induced OM has outlined that OM has a multifactorial origin, including direct effects, oxidative damage, upregulation of immunologic factors, and effects on oral flora. A persistent upregulated immune response, associated with factors related to patients' characteristics, may contribute to more severe and long-lasting OM. The goal is strategies to conjugate individual patient, disease, and therapy-related factors to guide OM prevention or treatment. Despite further high-quality research is warranted, the issue of prevention is paramount in future strategies.

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF A DEXAMETHASONE-BASED MOUTHWASH TO PREVENT CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED STOMATITIS IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER: A MULTICENTRE, OPEN-LABEL, RANDOMISED PHASE 2 STUDY

PURPOSE

No standard approach other than oral care is available for preventing chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in patients with breast cancer. In this randomized, controlled phase 2 trial, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a dexamethasone-based mouthwash in preventing chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in patients with early breast cancer.

BASIC PROCEDURES

Patients with breast cancer scheduled for epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) or docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC) therapy were selected and allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received chemotherapy, oral care, and a dexamethasone-based mouthwash, whereas the control group received chemotherapy and oral care. The primary endpoint was the incidence of stomatitis. This was a phase 2 study, and the significance level for the analysis of the primary endpoint was set a priori at 0.2.

MAIN FINDINGS

Data pertaining to 58 patients in the control group and 59 patients in the intervention group were analyzed. Stomatitis incidence was 55% and 38% in the control and intervention groups, respectively (risk ratio, 0.68; 80% confidence interval, 0.52-0.88; P = .052). Stomatitis severity was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P = .03). The proportion of patients who adhered to the mouthwash regimen was 87% (interquartile range, 67.8%-95.3%). No severe oral infections were observed.

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS

The dexamethasone-based mouthwash safely reduced stomatitis incidence and severity in patients receiving chemotherapy for early breast cancer. Phase 3 clinical trials are warranted for validating our results.

Effect of melatonin on quality of life and symptoms in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

This study systematically reviewed the effect of melatonin (MLT) on quality of life (QoL) and symptoms among patients with cancer.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, China Biology Medicine (CBM), ProQuest and Open Grey were searched from inception to November 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of MLT on QoL, sleep quality, fatigue, depression, pain, stomatitis rate and stomatitis severity in adult patients with cancer, without language restrictions. Studies that reported the effects of MLT along with other interventions and had incomplete or absent outcome data were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two independent reviewers extracted data, and another two reviewers assessed the risk of bias. The risk of bias for each eligible study was assessed using the Cochrane assessment tool. The mean difference or standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% CIs was used in the computation of continuous variables to synthesise data. The relative risk was used for dichotomous outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed and quantified (I² statistic).

RESULTS

A total of 19 qualified studies that included 2101 patients with cancer (MLT: 1078, control: 1023) were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that MLT had no significant effect on QoL (SMD=-0.01, 95% CI (-0.14 to 0.11), p=0.83), sleep quality (SMD=-0.18, 95% CI (-0.62 to 0.26), p=0.42), fatigue (SMD=-0.34, 95% CI (-0.73 to 0.06), p=0.10), pain (SMD=-0.34, 95% CI (-0.7 to 0.02), p=0.06) or stomatitis severity (RR=0.78, 95% CI (0.47 to 1.30), p=0.35). MLT reduced stomatitis rate among patients with cancer (RR=0.47, 95% CI (0.26 to 0.88), p=0.02), except those with head and neck cancer (RR=1.09, 95% CI (0.92 to 1.29), p=0.35). MLT eased depression in patients who received administration for more than 14 days (SMD=-0.14, 95% CI (-0.27 to -0.01), p=0.03) and those who underwent surgery (SMD=-0.17, 95% CI (-0.32 to -0.03), p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that MLT did not improve the QoL, sleep quality, fatigue, pain or stomatitis severity among patients with cancer. It had a limited effect on decreasing the stomatitis rate and easing depression. Different treatments, durations and cancer types were the main sources of heterogeneity. Further large-scale RCTs are urgently needed. In addition, the effects of different combinations of MLT dosage and duration, administration types and joint measures are worthy of further study.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021292855.