Reduced incidence and severity of acute radiation mucositis by WF10 (IMMUNOKINE) as adjunct to standard of cure in the management of head & neck cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of WF10-immunotherapy in reducing oro-pharyngeal complications in head and neck cancer chemoradiotherapy.


METHODS
Thirteen patients were enrolled and assigned either to WF10- (n = 6) or control group (n = 7). After completion of their initial (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy, patients received WF10 intravenous infusions at 0.5 mL/kg body weight/day for five consecutive days and repeated every 3 weeks, concomitantly to standard radiotherapy (6,600-7,500 cGy, 200 cGy/day). Control patients received radiotherapy alone.


RESULTS
Patients in the WF10-group had a lower incidence of oro-pharyngeal complications grade > 2, including oral mucositis (1 vs. 5), dysphagia (2 vs. 7), oral pain (3 vs. 5), taste alteration (4 vs. 6) and weight loss (2 vs. 4). The statistical significances were achieved for the parameters of oral mucositis (p = 0. 048) and dysphagia (p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
WF10 appears to reduce severity of oro-pharyngeal complications associated with standard chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Penpattanagul
Somkit
S
Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Udonthani Cancer Center, 36 Mittrapharp Road, Muang District, Udonthani 41330, Thailand. somkit@loxinfo.co.th
D000328:Adult; D002713:Chlorine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects*; D052016:Mucositis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D010087:Oxides; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D002713:Chlorine; C041955:tetrachlorodecaoxide