Doi, H., Fujiwara, M., Suzuki, H., Niwa, Y., Nakayama, M., Shikata, T., . . . Hirota, S. (2015). Polaprezinc reduces the severity of radiation-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 3, 381–386.
To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of polaprezinc (PZ) for the prevention of oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation therapy
PZ was prepared as an oral rinse (10 ml) and was administered four times per day while patients underwent radiation therapy. The solution was rinsed in the mouth and spat out. Patients were instructed to withhold all food and drink for 30 minutes after rinsing.
Nonrandomized, prospective study with a comparative analysis to a case-matched cohort that underwent a retrospective review
Overall, 93.8% of patients reported no difficulty with the PZ rinse. Two patients withdrew because of nontolerability. There was no statistic significance between groups for grade 3 mucositis. Some clinical significance in increased ability to take oral nutrition was reported. Quality of life increased, but no measurement of quality of life was provided. There was no difference in survival outcomes.
The use of a PZ oral solution was feasible and may lessen adverse clinical symptoms in regard to OM for patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation therapy.
PZ oral solution, which is a zinc-containing compound, might be helpful in reducing OM and increasing patients’ ability to take oral nutrition. However, more research needs to be completed.