Prospective study on the effect of topical honey on radiation-induced mucositis induced by concurrent chemotherapy and radiation or radiation alone given as radical or adjuvant treatment in head and neck squamous cell malignancies

Abstract

Pain imparts additional morbidity and economic burden to patients by requiring parenteral analgesia, interruption of radiation therapy (RT) and/or hospitalization, and parenteral or tube feeding, all of which negatively impact patients' quality of life. There are various drugs tried to relieve pain associated with radiation-induced mucositis. The aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the topical application of pure natural honey on radiation-induced mucositis in patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiation or radiation alone for radical or adjuvant treatment for head and neck squamous cell malignancies. Materials and methods: It is a hospital-based prospective study enrolling patients with histopathologically proven head and neck cancers. All histopathologically proven patients of squamous cell carcinoma of Head & Neck cancer (carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx) receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone in the definitive or adjuvant setting and who meet our inclusion and exclusion criteria will be taken up as study group. Results: Mean age of patients was 49 years, most males 87 %. The oral cavity was the most common primary site (84 %), followed by the oropharynx (16 %). Most cases were locally advanced cancer stage IV (60 %). The set of mucositis is after 5 fractions in both study and control groups, but 89 % in the control group, compared to 33 % in the study group. On grade 3, mucositis is delayed in the study group compared to the control group, and no patients in the study group had grade 4 mucositis. Conclusions: All patients in the study developed mucositis. On the set of grade 3, mucositis is delayed in the study group compared to the control group, and no patients in the study group had grade 4 mucositis. Honey is effective in preventing grade 3 and 4 mucositis. Honey showed no effect on weight loss and oral infections in this study.