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Background Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has increasingly been used to manage oral toxicities secondary to cancer treatment; however, its impact on the stimulation of malignant cells is currently unknown. Objective This 4-arm, double-blind, phase III randomized controlled clinical trial (RBR-4w4wwx) was designed to assess the impact of prophylactic PBMT for oral and oropharyngeal mucositis (OM) in the survival rates of patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods Patients were randomly allocated to 4 groups: intraoral prophylactic PBMT (G1), placebo intraoral PBMT (G2), extraoral prophylactic PBMT (G3), and placebo extraoral PBMT (G4). OM grade (NCI) and OM-associated pain (EVA scale) were assessed weekly during OPSCC treatment. Tumor outcomes were evaluated quarterly during 12 months. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 45 OPSCC patients were included. OM peak ulcerations (grade 2 or higher) were observed at week 3 for G1, G2, and G4 and at week 5 for G3. Placebo groups had the highest levels of pain when compared with the treatment/intervention groups (P Conclusions No negative impact of prophylactic PBMT for OM could be detected in terms OPSCC treatment outcomes.

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the process, in which, the neoplastic cells lose epithelial phenotype, assuming a mesenchymal aspect. Among the proteins that contribute to EMT in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) there are E-cadherin and N-cadherin. Objective: To evaluate the protein expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin after exposure to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD) in OSCC cell line (SCC-9). Study Design: Protein expression was determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results: The cholesterol depletion resulted in the change of cell morphology, with the acquisition of mesenchymal phenotype. The protein expression of the cadherins in the treated SCC-9 was shown to be increased in relation to the parental sample. No difference was observed in E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression (P = .543 and P = .849 respectively, Kruskal-Wallis Test). Although the negative correlation was not statistically significant (P = .898; r = -0.08, Pearson), N-cadherin showed the highest median expression (median = 2557; SD = 0.261) in relation to E-cadherin (median = 4575; SD = 1.581). Furthermore, a decreased of E-cadherin membrane expression, and nuclear and cytoplasmic N-cadherin expression gain was observed on the immunofluorescence. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that cholesterol depletion is able to regulate the protein expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin, favoring EMT in OSCC.

A 60-year-old male patient with a history of chronic drinking and smoking was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma on the tongue beyond surgical therapeutic possibility. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were indicated. After the fifth cycle of chemotherapy concomitant with radiotherapy, the patient reported pain in the oral cavity, which worsened after the use of methotrexate to treat peripheral neuropathy. The condition progressed to extensive oral ulcers requiring the use of a nasogastric tube for feeding. Low-intensity laser (AsGaAl, 680 nm, 2 J/cm2) was applied on the ulcers in a punctual and continuous manner. After 4 sessions, there was a significant improvement of the condition, with catheter removal and the patient being released from the hospital. The laser therapy proved to be effective in the treatment of oral mucositis lesions, reducing the pain and severity of the lesions, being a noninvasive and safe form of treatment.