Radiation therapy and serum salivary amylase in head and neck cancer

Francesca De Felice; Mario Tombolini; Angela Musella; Francesco Marampon; Vincenzo Tombolini; Daniela Musio

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.18763

Radiation therapy and serum salivary amylase in head and neck cancer

Oncotarget. 2017 Jun 28;8(52):90496-90500. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.18763. eCollection 2017 Oct 27.

Authors

Francesca De Felice¹, Mario Tombolini², Angela Musella³, Francesco Marampon⁴, Vincenzo Tombolini¹, Daniela Musio¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
² Department Organs of Sense, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Radiobiology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.

Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT) is a valid treatment option for head and neck cancer (HNC). The risk of RT-induced toxicities is significant, especially due to extended treatment fields. The raise in amylase activity is strictly dependent on the volume of salivary glands included in the irradiated target volume and it is firmly related to the dose. The aim of this review is to report the effects on salivary amylase activity after radiation exposure of salivary glands, in patients with HNC.

Keywords: amylase; dose; head and neck cancer; radiotherapy; salivary glands.

Publication types

Review