Improving outcomes in oral mucositis — emerging role of polaprezinc
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Abstract
One of the most common and debilitating complications of cancer treatment is oral mucositis (OM), characterized by erythema and ulcerations of the oral mucosa. It mainly affects head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplants. It is associated with excruciating pain, inability to eat or drink, and decreased quality of life. While numerous strategies for managing OM have been explored, few have shown sufficient effectiveness to establish clear treatment guidelines. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have investigated polaprezinc (PZ), an insoluble zinc complex of L-carnosine, as a new promising treatment in OM. We reviewed nine publications, including three randomized controlled trials, published between 2010 and 2023, focusing on polaprezinc’s potential benefits in managing OM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive summary of research on PZ in its various forms and its efficacy in OM management. Despite the limited number of studies available, most of the research reviewed supported polaprezinc’s potential to reduce the incidence and/or severity of oral mucositis. Additionally, its role in addressing other complications, such as pain relief, xerostomia, and taste disturbances, has also been reported as promising. However, further evaluation through high-quality, multi-institutional randomized studies on a larger scale, preferably conducted outside of Japan, is needed to confirm polaprezinc’s efficacy in preventing and managing OM.
Keywords: oral mucositispolaprezincradiotherapychemotherapyhead and neck neoplasms
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