A Study to Describe the Effect of Photobiomodulation (Low Level Laser Therapy) in Reducing the Severity and Incidence of Oral Mucositis (Oral Ulceration) in Oral Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Treatment

NCT07387978 | Recruiting FDA Device

• 1 other identifier: 25/131
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to describe the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in post-operative oral cancer patients receiving radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy. Participants will receive PBM treatment five times a week throughout the course of their radiotherapy. The main question it aims to answer is whether photobiomodulation reduces the incidence and severity of oral mucositis.

Conditions

Oral Mucositis

Keywords

photobiomodulation; low level laser therapy; head and neck cancer; oral cancer; radiotherapy; oral mucositis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cumulative incidence and severity of acute oral mucositis

  To describe the effect of PBM on the cumulative incidence and severity of acute OM as defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0) for radiation induced mucositis during RT and for 8 weeks following RT.

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Function and quality of life (QoL)

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Pain in the oral cavity and throat

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Analgesia intake

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Need for enteral feeding

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Hospitalisation rates

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Study Arms (1)

Photobiomodulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive photobiomodulation therapy five times a week during the course of their radiation treatment. Upon completion of radiotherapy, if oral mucositis is still present, participants can choose to continue photobiomodulation treatment until oral mucositis has resolved. The frequency of photobiomodulation will be conducted at the discretion of the investigator.

Device: photobiomodulation

Interventions

photobiomodulation DEVICE

photobiomodulation (low level laser therapy) application within and outside the oral cavity

Photobiomodulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patient has provided written informed consent using the PBM PICF
• Age ≥ 18 years of age at Screening
• Histological diagnosis of HNC of the oral cavity with no evidence of macroscopic or microscopic residual disease post-surgery (R0 or R1 resection) with histopathological confirmation and no gross residual lymphadenopathy in the planned PBM treatment area
• Planned treatment with RT or chemoradiotherapy to a dose of ≥ 50 Gy Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 or 1 (Appendix 1)
• Intact oral mucosa (no visible ulceration, dehiscence, or active infection)

You may not qualify if:

• Gross macroscopic and/or microscopic residual disease post-surgery (R2 resection) or gross residual lymphadenopathy in the planned PBM treatment area
• Prior RT to the head and neck including the oral or oropharyngeal mucosa
• Prior cytotoxic chemotherapy in the last 3 months
• Diagnosis of photosensitive disorder (cutaneous porphyria, xeroderma pigmentosum, etc)
• Concurrent administration of cetuximab
• Known to be pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the trial period
• Diagnosis of epilepsy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia

RECRUITING

Related Publications (9)

• Bensadoun, R. J., Epstein, J. B., Nair, R. G., Barasch, A., Raber-Durlacher, J. E., Migliorati, C., Genot-Klastersky, M. T., Treister, N., Arany, P., & Lodewijckx, J. (2020). Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in oncology: A systematic review. Cancer medicine, 9(22), 8279-8300. Brandão, T. B., Morais-Faria, K., Ribeiro, A. C. P., Rivera, C., Salvajoli, J. V., Lopes, M. A., Epstein, J. B., Arany, P. R., de Castro, G., & Migliorati, C. A. (2018). Locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with photobiomodulation for prevention of oral mucositis: retrospective outcomes and safety analyses. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26, 2417-2423. Courtois, E., Bouleftour, W., Guy, J. B., Louati, S., Bensadoun, R. J., Rodriguez-Lafrasse, C., & Magné, N. (2021). Mechanisms of PhotoBioModulation (PBM) focused on oral mucositis prevention and treatment: a scoping review. BMC Oral Health, 21(1), 220. Elad, S., Cheng, K. K. F., Lalla, R. V., Yarom, N., Hong, C., Logan, R. M., Bowen, J., Gibson, R., Saunders, D. P., & Zadik, Y. (2020). MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines for the management of mucositis secondary to cancer therapy. Cancer, 126(19), 4423-4431. Macann, A., Fua, T., Milross, C. G., Porceddu, S. V., Penniment, M., Wratten, C., Krawitz, H., Poulsen, M., Tang, C. I., & Morton, R. P. (2014). Phase 3 trial of domiciliary humidification to mitigate acute mucosal toxicity during radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer: first report of Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) 07.03 RadioHUM study. International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 88(3), 572-579. NICE. (2018). Low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Sroussi, H. Y., Epstein, J. B., Bensadoun, R. J., Saunders, D. P., Lalla, R. V., Migliorati, C. A., Heaivilin, N., & Zumsteg, Z. S. (2017). Common oral complications of head and neck cancer radiation therapy: mucositis, infections, saliva cha

  BACKGROUND

• Taylor, J. K.-A., Mady, L. J., Baddour, K., Iheagwara, U. K., Zhai, S., Ohr, J. P., Zandberg, D. P., Gorantla, V. C., Ferris, R. L., & Kim, S. (2022). A phase Ⅱ prospective trial of photobiomodulation therapy in limiting oral mucositis in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer patients. World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 8(04), 345-354.

  BACKGROUND

• Sroussi, H. Y., Epstein, J. B., Bensadoun, R. J., Saunders, D. P., Lalla, R. V., Migliorati, C. A., Heaivilin, N., & Zumsteg, Z. S. (2017). Common oral complications of head and neck cancer radiation therapy: mucositis, infections, saliva change, fibrosis, sensory dysfunctions, dental caries, periodontal disease, and osteoradionecrosis. Cancer medicine, 6(12), 2918-2931

  BACKGROUND

• NICE. (2018). Low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

  BACKGROUND

• Macann, A., Fua, T., Milross, C. G., Porceddu, S. V., Penniment, M., Wratten, C., Krawitz, H., Poulsen, M., Tang, C. I., & Morton, R. P. (2014). Phase 3 trial of domiciliary humidification to mitigate acute mucosal toxicity during radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer: first report of Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) 07.03 RadioHUM study. International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 88(3), 572-579

  BACKGROUND

• Elad, S., Cheng, K. K. F., Lalla, R. V., Yarom, N., Hong, C., Logan, R. M., Bowen, J., Gibson, R., Saunders, D. P., & Zadik, Y. (2020). MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines for the management of mucositis secondary to cancer therapy. Cancer, 126(19), 4423-4431.

  BACKGROUND

• Courtois, E., Bouleftour, W., Guy, J. B., Louati, S., Bensadoun, R. J., Rodriguez-Lafrasse, C., & Magné, N. (2021). Mechanisms of PhotoBioModulation (PBM) focused on oral mucositis prevention and treatment: a scoping review. BMC Oral Health, 21(1), 220.

  BACKGROUND

• Brandão, T. B., Morais-Faria, K., Ribeiro, A. C. P., Rivera, C., Salvajoli, J. V., Lopes, M. A., Epstein, J. B., Arany, P. R., de Castro, G., & Migliorati, C. A. (2018). Locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with photobiomodulation for prevention of oral mucositis: retrospective outcomes and safety analyses. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26, 2417-2423.

  BACKGROUND

• Bensadoun, R. J., Epstein, J. B., Nair, R. G., Barasch, A., Raber-Durlacher, J. E., Migliorati, C., Genot-Klastersky, M. T., Treister, N., Arany, P., & Lodewijckx, J. (2020). Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in oncology: A systematic review. Cancer medicine, 9(22), 8279-8300.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stomatitis; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Mouth Neoplasms

Interventions

Low-Level Light Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Laser Therapy; Therapeutics; Phototherapy

Central Study Contacts

Sophie Beaumont, Bachelor of Dental surgery

CONTACT

03 85596443; sophie.beaumont@petermac.org

Shae Beaton, Bachelor of oral health

CONTACT

03 85596443; shae.beaton@petermac.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2025
• First Posted: February 4, 2026
• Study Start: November 26, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028
• Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (1)