PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - VITALIANA DE SANCTIS AU - LILIANA BELGIOIA AU - DOMENICO CANTE AU - MARIA R. LA PORTA AU - ORIETTA CASPIANI AU - ROBERTA GUARNACCIA AU - ANGELA ARGENONE AU - PAOLO MUTO AU - DANIELA MUSIO AU - FRANCESCA DE FELICE AU - FRANCESCA MAURIZI AU - FEISAL BUNKHELIA AU - MARIA G. RUO REDDA AU - ALESSIA REALI AU - MAURIZIO VALERIANI AU - MATTIA F. OSTI AU - DANIELA ALTERIO AU - ALMALINA BACIGALUPO AU - ELVIO G. RUSSI TI - <em>Lactobacillus brevis</em> CD2 for Prevention of Oral Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Tumors: A Multicentric Randomized Study AID - 10.21873/anticanres.13303 DP - 2019 Apr 01 TA - Anticancer Research PG - 1935--1942 VI - 39 IP - 4 4099 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/4/1935.short 4100 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/4/1935.full SO - Anticancer Res2019 Apr 01; 39 AB - Background: Oropharyngeal mucositis occurs in virtually all patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiochemotherapy. The manipulation of the oral cavity microbiota represents an intriguing and challenging target. Patients and Methods: A total of 75 patients were enrolled to receive Lactobacillus brevis CD2 lozenges or oral care regimen with sodium bicarbonate mouthwashes. The primary endpoint was the incidence of grade 3 or 4 oropharyngeal mucositis during radiotherapy treatment. Results: There was no statistical difference in the incidence of grade 3-4 oropharyngeal mucositis between the intervention and control groups (40.6% vs. 41.6% respectively, p=0.974). The incidence of pain, dysphagia, body weight loss and quality of life were not different between the experimental and standard arm. Conclusion: Our study was not able to demonstrate the efficacy of L. brevis CD2 lozenges in preventing radiation-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Although modulating homeostasis of the salivary microbiota in the oral cavity seems attractive, it clearly needs further study.