Influence of Circadian Rhythm In Radiation Induced Mucositis In Head And Neck Malignancies

Abstract

More than 60% of head and neck cancers in
India are locally progressed. Treatment
based on chemotherapy has been the
mainstay for the last 30 years. Normal tissue
toxicity, manifesting as mucositis, has
remained a constraint despite the multimodal
therapy.WHOLE SETTING AND
APPROACH: Using data from patients
undergoing radiation therapy for head and
neck cancers, we looked at the possible links
between the normal mucosal circadian cycle
and the onset and progression of mucositis.
We reviewed the records of 142 individuals
diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of
the head and neck (stage II to IVA) between
time. There was a grading of patients
according to whether they had EBRT first
thing in the morning (8-11am) or last thing at
night (5-8pm). Both groups exhibited a
reasonable degree of homogeneity in
clinicopathological features.