From Radiation to Weight Loss: The Self-perpetuating Cycle of Oral Mucositis: Insights from a Pilot Institutional...

Globally, head-and-neck cancers are the sixth most prevalent type of cancer, most frequently found in developing countries. Treatment modalities include surgery, radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy, either alone or in combination. Approximately two-thirds of these patients receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment approach. The pathological changes at the tumour site, along with acute toxic reactions to radiation therapy, can result in decreased taste sensitivity and harm to the oral mucosa can lead to conditions such as mucositis, xerostomia, pain and difficulties in swallowing and decreased mouth opening. Our aim is to evaluate the correlation between increasing weight loss and the escalating severity of mucositis, as this vicious cycle significantly affects patient outcomes and quality of life, as discussed in this paper.

We conducted a prospective pilot study from February 2024 to July 2024, during which we observed and gathered data from 50 consecutive patients with oral cancer and its various subsites with proven histopathology of squamous cell carcinoma who underwent adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation therapy (CRT) three to 6 weeks following surgical tumour resection.

The sample size consisted of patients who received adjuvant CRT and adjuvant RT only. The incidence of weight loss and the severity of mucositis is directly linked with each other.

The inference of this study is that weight management during adjuvant therapy leads to lesser radiation toxicity.