@article { author = {Shivashankara, Arnadi and Pais, Saira and Simon, Paul and Kalekhan, Faizan and Lobo, Ashwin and Suresh, Sucharitha and Tonse, Raees and George, Thomas and Baliga, Manjeshwar}, title = {Salivary Lactate Dehydrogenase as a Predictive Marker for Radiation-induced Dermatitis in Head and Neck Cancers: A Preliminary Study}, journal = {Middle East Journal of Cancer}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {607-615}, year = {2022}, publisher = {Shiraz University of Medical Sciences}, issn = {2008-6709}, eissn = {2008-6687}, doi = {10.30476/mejc.2022.88673.1485}, abstract = {Background: Radiation dermatitis is known to be a major side-effect occurring following cancer treatment. We conducted the present study to understand whether salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) could be conducive to predict the development of radiation-dermatitis in the head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing curative radiotherapy (60-70 Gy).Method: This was a prospective study performed on HNC patients requiring curative radiotherapy. Saliva was collected at two points from the willing volunteers. The first time point was prior to the first fraction of 2 Gy radiation and the second one was 24 hours after the first fraction and before exposure to the second fraction. The saliva collected at the both time points were analyzed for the levels of salivary LDH using standard procedure. The patients were provided with the standard care throughout the treatment period and the incidence and severity of radiation dermatitis was noted down using a proforma sheet throughout the 7-week treatment period.Results: The results suggested that with exposure to 2 Gy fraction, there was an increase in the level of salivary LDH (387.11 ± 18.98 IU/L vs. 368. 13 ± 19.56IU/L); this increase was significant (t = 20.06 and P < 0.001). The LDH data was stratified based on the severity of dermatitis [mild (grades 1 and 2) vs. severe (grades 3 and 4)] in accordance to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer (RTOG) grading. The LDH values were subjected to Karl Pearson’s correlation analysis with the grade of dermatitis and the results indicated a P value of 0.019 and R value of 0.24.Conclusion: For the first time, our study revealed that salivary LDH could be a useful marker to understand the development of radiation-induced dermatitis in HNC patients undergoing curative radiotherapy. The most advantageous aspect herewith is that the collection of saliva does not require skilled people or special equipment; it cou ld be done at repeated intervals and without causing any invasive process.}, keywords = {Head and neck neoplasms,Saliva,Lactate dehydrogenase,Radiotherapy,Radiodermatitis}, url = {https://mejc.sums.ac.ir/article_48323.html}, eprint = {https://mejc.sums.ac.ir/article_48323_fed1a0da2037ff950a87583dc4907df2.pdf} }