Clinical outcomes of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with antibiotics for radiation-induced mucositis: a retrospective study

Objective To examine the effects of antibiotic administration on radiation-induced oral and oropharyngeal mucositis, and on the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed data for patients with NPC with grade 1/2 or 3/4 mucositis. Forty-two patients with grade 3/4 mucositis received antibiotics. Univariate survival analysis was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves, survival curves were compared using log-rank tests, and multivariate analysis was carried out by Cox regression. Results A total of 463 patients with NPC were included in the study (194 grade 1/2 mucositis, 269 grade 3/4 mucositis). Univariate analyses identified T-stage, N-stage, clinical stage, type of treatment, and antibiotic use as factors affecting overall and disease-free survival. Multivariate analysis also determined that T-stage, N-stage stage, type of treatment, and antibiotic usage were independent factors affecting overall and disease-free survival. Mucositis improved in 32 of the 42 patients who received antibiotics (76.19%). However, red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels decreased in all patients after antibiotic treatment. Conclusions Antibiotics may be effective for the treatment of severe radiation-induced mucositis (grade 3/4) during chemoradiotherapy, but may potentially adversely affect the prognosis of patients with NPC.