title: Oral candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy with amifostine cytoprotection.
abstract: This controlled study assessed the incidence of oral candidiasis, a xerostomia-related complication, in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, with amifostine cytoprotection. Thirty-eight patients received 500 mg amifostine i.v., prior to each radiotherapy fraction, while 16 patients received radiotherapy alone. Oral candidiasis was diagnosed according to the criteria described before. Subjective xerostomia scales were completed by all patients. Mucositis was evaluated using the RTOG criteria. Oral candidiasis was diagnosed in 11/38 amifostine patients and in 9/16 controls (P = 0.07). Severe xerostomia was reported by 4/38 amifostine patients and by 7/16 controls. Oral candidiasis was reduced with amifostine cytoprotection. Oral candidiasis is suggested as an objective, early, though indirect, endpoint for amifostine's radioprotective effect on salivary glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. nicolatou.galitis@lycos.com
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nicolatou-Galitis
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sotiropoulou-Lontou
authors.forename: Aristea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velegraki
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pissakas
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolitsi
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kyprianou
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouloulias
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yiotakis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dardoufas
mesh_terms: D004999:Amifostine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D004999:Amifostine