Salivary Anionic Changes after Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A 1-Year Prospective Study |
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| Authors: | Edmond H. N. Pow Zhuofan Chen Dora L. W. Kwong Otto L. T. Lam |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;2. Department of Oral Implantology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China;3. Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, UNITED STATES |
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| Abstract: | ObjectivesTo investigate the salivary anionic changes of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated by radiotherapy.Material and MethodsThirty-eight patients with T1-4, N0-2, M0 NPC received conventional radiotherapy. Stimulated whole saliva was collected at baseline and 2, 6 and 12 months after radiotherapy. Salivary anions levels were measured using ion chromatography.ResultsA reduction in stimulated saliva flow and salivary pH was accompanied by sustained changes in anionic composition. At 2 months following radiotherapy, there was a significant increase in chloride, sulphate, lactate and formate levels while significant reductions in nitrate and thiocyanate levels were found. No further changes in these anion levels were observed at 6 and 12 months. No significant changes were found in phosphate, acetate, or propionate levels throughout the study period.ConclusionsConventional radiotherapy has a significant and prolonged impact on certain anionic species, likely contributing to increased cariogenic properties and reduced antimicrobial capacities of saliva in NPC patients post-radiotherapy. |
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