Efficacy and Safety of CareMin650 for Prevention of Oral Mucositis in HNC Patients Starting Radiotherapy

Oral mucositis (OM) can affect up to 90% of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy (CT). It can be as severe as WHO grade 3 / 4 in 35% to more than 50% of cases. The pathobiology of OM relates to injuries that occur in the epithelial and connective tissues, as a response to a complex cascade of biological events, involving all the tissues and cellular elements of the mucosa (Sonis et al., 2004). OM may result in dysphagia, pain, risk of infection, weight loss, interruption or modification of anticancer therapy, or hospitalization.

As OM is a major and frequent side effect of RT, the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) has published clinical practice guidelines for mucositis prevention secondary to cancer therapy. In addition to meticulous oral hygiene, MASCC/ISOO also suggests several therapeutic preventive strategies: growth factors, cytokines, anti-inflammatory agents, natural agents, … In the 2020 guidelines, photobiomodulation (PBM) formerly known as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), has obtain a full recommendation for the prevention of OM in patients undergoing RT, with or without concomitant CT, for HNC.

PBM is the application of lasers or non-coherent light sources such as LEDs, to beneficially influence cellular metabolism. In a Cochrane review that included 32 clinical trials, PBM was the only treatment that demonstrated a reduction in the risk of severe mucositis. In 2011, a meta-analysis included 11 placebo-controlled randomized trials in 415 patients treated with CT or RT for head and neck cancer (HNC) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. According to MASCC/ISOO recommendations, PBM is now recommended to prevent OM in HNC patients receiving RT with or without chemotherapy . The 2014 recommendations have been endorsed by the AFSOS (Association Française pour les Soins de Support en Oncologie) in France. Finally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) determined that PBM for OM shows no major safety concerns and that evidence on efficacy is adequate in quality and quantity.

Taken together, these data show that PBM is an efficacious and safe option to prevent and/or treat radiotherapy-related OM.

Even though PBM has proved its efficacy, delivery of PBM in OM is currently limited by lack of standardization, accuracy and reproducibility. In particular, the distance between the lighting source and the mucosa or skin is difficult to assess and control accurately. Therefore, the amount of energy delivered may vary from one session to another, as well as from one operator to another.

CareMin650 has been developed to overcome these issues. CareMin650 allows a reproducible delivery of light, independently of the operator. As light is emitted by a flexible surface in contact with the mucosa or the skin, the dose delivered will be controlled. Additionally, it is meant to be easy to use and user-friendly. An interim analysis of SafePBM, a pilot study performed in France provided preliminary data on safety and efficacy. Among 186 CareMin650 sessions performed to prevent (n=152) or treat (n=34) OM in patients with HNC, no treatment-emergent adverse event was considered related to the device and no adverse event led to CareMin650 discontinuation. Only one out of 7 (14%) HNC patients treated in the preventative setting developed OM grade 3. However, this patient had started PBM 6 days after the initiation of RT, instead of starting at day 1 of RT. These encouraging results suggest that CareMin650 is both well tolerated and efficient to prevent severe OM in these high-risk patients.

The aim of the present study is to show the efficacy and safety of the CareMin650 medical device, in the prevention of severe OM in HNC patients receiving radiotherapy. The rate of severe OM will be compared to severe OM rate reported in the literature.

This is a prospective, interventional, one-group, open-label, multicentric, international study that will be conducted in Belgian and German sites, specialized in radio-oncology.

Photobiomodulation will be delivered to all included patients with the CareMin650 (NeoMedLight).

The studied Device CareMin 650 consists in a lightbox and a light applicator that delivers red light at 650nm to the oral mucosa and the neck. The applicator is composed of a connector, a fiberoptic beam of about 1 meter long and a light textile part. Appropriate non-sterile single use disposable sleeves will be added by the operator to cover the part in contact with the patient's mucosa or skin.

This device is CE marked and is used in this study in its intended indication.

No interim analysis is planned.

Inclusion criteria

• ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status ≤ 2.
• Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx, hypo pharynx or oral cavity, with or without prior surgical resection.
• Starting intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or VoluMetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) on at least 50% of the oral mucosa at a total dose of at least 50 Gy, alone or associated with chemotherapy or targeted therapies.
• Dental examination prior to radiotherapy and any required dental treatment have been performed.

Exclusion criteria

• Any ongoing malignancy located in head or neck other than primary head and neck cancer (distant metastasis or extension).
• Any active cancer other than primary head and neck cancer.
• Only enteral/parenteral feeding or only liquid food intake are possible.
• Ongoing keratinocyte growth factors (palifermin) use.
• Known polyurethane allergy.