Efficacy of Ulinastatin for Reducing Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

The primary outcome measures planned in the protocol were the incidence of actue oral mucositis grade greater than or equal to 3 using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events of Version 4.03 (CTCAE 4.03) in the experimental group and control group. CTCAE 4.03 grade 3 = severe pain; interfering with oral; CTCAE 4.03 grade 4 = Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated; CTCAE 4.03 grade 5 = death. Mucositis will be assessed weely during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

Weeks to onset is the duration from the start of radiotherapy to the week of first severe oral mucositis occurred. Severe oral mucositis was defined as a Grade 3 or above of Common Terminology Criteria For Adverse Events of Version 4.03 (CTCAE 4.03). CTCAE 4.03 grade 3 = severe pain; interfering with oral; CTCAE 4.03 grade 4 = Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated; CTCAE 4.03 grade 5 = death. Mucositis will be assessed weekly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. Time to onset of severe mucositis will be recorded. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

The Oral Assessment Guide (OAG) score is calculated based on the following categories: ability of swallow; the appearance of lips; the appearance of tongue; the appearance of oral mucous membranes; the appearance of gingivae; the appearance of teeth; and the change of voice. There are three grades in every category. The details about Oral Assessment Guide is available in: http://www.rch.org.au/rchcpg/hospital_clinical_guideline_index/Mouth_Care_of_the_paediatric_oncology_patient/. The OAG score will be assessed weekly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

The Oral Mucositis Score of World Health Organization (WHO) was classified based on the changes of patients' oral mucosa and ability to eat, and are classified to 4 grades. WHO scale for oral mucositis (available in: Peterson DE, Boersdoets CB, Bensadoun RJ, et al. Management of oral and gastrointestinal mucosal injury: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Annals of Oncology 2015; 26(supply5). https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdv202): Grade 0 = no oral mucositis; Grade 1 = erythema and soreness; Grade 2 = ulcers, able to eat solids; Grade 3 = ulcers, requires liquid diet (due to mucositis); Grade 4 = ulcers, alimentation not possible (due to mucositis). The WHO score will be assessed weekly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

Participants with a duration of 5 days or more without an administration of radiotherapy or who discontinue radiotherapy prior to completion of planned radiotherapy were considered to have an unplanned break in radiotherapy. The rate of unplanned break was calculated for both arms.

The quality of life for all participants was evaluated according to The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) (available in: Grønvold M. EORTC QLQ-C30 Scoring Manual 2014.). The EORTC QLQ-C30 shoule be completed weekly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

The functional status for all participants was assessed according to Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS Scale) (available in: Friendlander AH, Ettinger RL. Karnofsky performance status scale[J]. Special Care in Dentistry, 2009, 29(4):147.). The KPS Scale was range from 0 to 100, and were averagely divided into eleven grades begin with 0. The KPS Scale will be recoreded weekly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

The pain caused by oral mucositis for all participants was assessed according to Numeric Rating Scale (NRS scale), by which a respondent selects a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of their pain. And an 11-point scale where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. The scale for each patient was recorded. The NRS scale will be assessed weekly during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for 7 weeks, and assessed once at 1 month after CCRT and 3 months after CCRT, respectively. The whole observation time may up to 19 weeks.

Efficacy was estimated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) (available in: Watanabe H, Okada M, Kaji Y, et al. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours-revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1. European Journal of Cancer, 2009, 45(2):228-247.). The efficacy was divided into complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD). And CR was defined as disappearance of all target lesions, PR was defined as at least a 30% reduction in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions. Overall response rate (ORR) is the sum rate of patients with CR and PR for the total number of evaluable patients.

The adverse events related to ulinastatin based on medicine specification of ulinastatin was observed and recorded down according to Common toxicity criteria, version 2.0. (available in: Version CTC, Version CTC, Date P, et al. Common toxicity criteria (ctc) 1999.).