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Nayak SG, George A, Sharan K, Nayak BS, Salins N. Interventions to improve quality of life in patients with head and neck cancers receiving radiation therapy: a scoping review. Support Care Cancer 2023; 32:31. [PMID: 38102525 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08197-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality of life (QOL) is impaired in patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) due to illness and treatment-associated morbidity. Although there is evidence from the studies on interventions' role in improving QOL receiving radiation therapy, these are not systematically synthesised. In this scoping review, we searched and synthesised the evidence on interventions to improve the QOL and its impact among patients with HNCs. METHODS This scoping review was conducted using the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, and the extensions suggested by Levac et al. were incorporated. Two reviewers independently searched four electronic databases using key thesaurus and free-text terms, and the data was extracted, tabulated, synthesised and reported as categories. RESULTS Seventy-nine papers reported various interventions of diverse nature such as pharmacological, physical, nutritional, complementary and alternative therapies, psychosocial, oral care related, laser and photobiomodulation therapies, rehabilitative, educational, technology-based, surgical, device-related and nurse lead interventions. Most studies reported clinically meaningful impact of interventions on QOL, although the outcome differences were often statistically insignificant. Few studies reported a combination of interventions to address the multidimensional concerns faced by patients with HNCs. None of the studies examined the impact of interventions on QOL among long-term survivors of HNCs. CONCLUSION As QOL concerns in patients with HNCs are multifaceted, more extensive studies with complex multi-component interventions and robust research designs are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Ganesh Nayak
- Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Anice George
- Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
| | - Krishna Sharan
- Radiotherapy & Oncology, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Baby S Nayak
- Department of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Naveen Salins
- Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Nathan CAO, Asarkar AA, Entezami P, Corry J, Strojan P, Poorten VV, Makitie A, Eisbruch A, Robbins KT, Smee R, St John M, Chiesa-Estomba C, Winter SC, Beitler JJ, Ferlito A. Current management of xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients. Am J Otolaryngol 2023; 44:103867. [PMID: 36996514 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) continues to play a key role in the management of head and neck cancer (HNC). Xerostomia remains a principal detriment to the quality of life (QoL) for 80 % of surviving patients receiving head and neck radiation. Radiation-induced injury to the salivary glands is dose-dependent, and thus efforts have been focused on decreasing radiation to the salivary glands. Decreased saliva production reduces both short-term and long-term quality of life in head and neck survivors by impacting on taste and contributing to dysphagia. Several radioprotective agents to the salivary gland have been investigated. Although not widely practiced, surgical transfer of the submandibular gland prior to RT is the mainstay of surgical options in preventing xerostomia. This review focuses on the strategies to improve xerostomia following radiation therapy in head and neck cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie-Ann O Nathan
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA; Otolaryngology Section, Surgical Service, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
| | - Ameya A Asarkar
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Payam Entezami
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA; Otolaryngology Section, Surgical Service, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - June Corry
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Genesiscare St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Primoz Strojan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vincent Vander Poorten
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oncology, Section Head and Neck Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antti Makitie
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Avraham Eisbruch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - K T Robbins
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Robert Smee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Prince of Wales Cancer Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maie St John
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Chiesa-Estomba
- Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Department - Donostia University Hospital, Biodonostia Research Institute, Deusto University, Spain
| | - Stuart C Winter
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Alfio Ferlito
- International Head and Neck Scientific Group, Padua, Italy
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Abstract
PURPOSE Within the context of xerostomia, there is evidence that adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can differentiate into salivary gland cells in the appropriate environment. The purpose of this study was to preliminarily investigate whether fat grafting as practiced in the United States would be an effective treatment for xerostomia. METHODS Patients were selected for the study if they were seeking treatment for xerostomia after radiation treatment to the head and neck for cancer treatment. Fat grafting was performed in bilateral parotid and submandibular glands. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of xerostomia was used both preoperatively and postoperatively to assess the effect upon xerostomia symptoms. RESULTS Nine patients were included in this study. All patients had complaints of long-standing xerostomia. The average preoperative VAS score was 9.1. All patients tolerated all rounds of fat grafting with no complications. The average postoperative VAS score was 6.0. Compared to preoperative scores, all patients had improvement in VAS scores. The decrease in average VAS score postoperatively (9.1 versus 6.0) was statistically significant (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that there was improvement in xerostomia symptoms with autologous fat transfer alone. This is a novel finding for fat grafting demonstrating regenerative potential. There has been extensive basic research that has shown that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells can have a protective and restorative role after salivary gland radiation damage. Our case series is the first report of fat grafting having a similar reported outcome.Level of Evidence: 4.
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