Project R-14996

Photobiomodulation therapy in the management of therapy-related side effects in cancer patients. (Research)

The global cancer burden keeps rising, and the accompanied side effects remain a significant concern. This project focuses on three complications (1) radiotherapy-induced vaginal toxicity (RIVT), (2) chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), and (3) chemotherapyinduced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). (1) The use of external and internal radiotherapy in gynecological cancers can severely impact the patient's vaginal function. This influences the patient's quality of life (QoL), as it significantly limits sexual intercourse and further physical examination. (2) 65% of cancer patients receiving cytotoxic drugs experience CIA, which negatively impacts their QoL, as hair loss is often associated with impaired body image and increased depression rates. (3) CIPN is one of the common complications of cancer treatment and involves paresthesia, numbness and/or burning pain in distal limbs. It is often associated with psychological distress, fall risk, and poor sleep quality. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) is a non-invasive form of phototherapy that utilizes visible and/or near-infrared light to trigger a cascade of intracellular reactions. PBM can be used to improve wound healing, and to reduce pain, inflammation, and edema. This project aims to determine the efficacy of PBM in the management of RIVT, CIA, and CIPN in cancer patients. This project's results could make the patients bear their treatment better, leading to an increase in the QoL of numerous cancer patients.

16 September 2021 - 15 September 2025