Changes in the protein composition of whole saliva during radiotherapy in patients with oral or pharyngeal cancer

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Oral Surg., Oral Med., Oral Pathol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-4220(86)90007-1· OSTI ID:5006148

Makkonen, T A; Tenovuo, J; Vilja, P; Heimdahl, A

We analyzed the radiation-induced changes in the flow rate and protein composition of stimulated whole saliva in eleven patients treated for malignant conditions of the head and neck. In all patients the radiation field covered all major salivary glands and a large area of the oral mucosa. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva samples were collected once 2 to 21 days before therapy and then after 20, 40, and 60 gray (Gy) cumulative dose of irradiation. Five patients also provided samples 6 months after the therapy. Hyposalivation or xerostomia occurred in all patients, although the pretreatment secretion rates were already relatively low. Salivary amylase activities decreased with increasing dose of radiation, especially when expressed as the amount of enzyme secreted per minute. Unusually high salivary concentrations of albumin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, salivary peroxidase, myeloperoxidase, and total protein were observed during the therapy, but most values slowly returned to pretreatment levels after cessation of radiation. It is concluded that the observed qualitative changes in whole saliva components are net effects caused by the cancer itself, radiation therapy given, systemic diseases, or medications, as well as mucosal inflammations.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Turku, Finland
• OSTI ID: 5006148
• Journal Information: Oral Surg., Oral Med., Oral Pathol.; (United States), Vol. 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
SALIVA
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ISOENZYMES
LACTOFERRIN
PATIENTS
PEROXIDASES
PROTEINS
RADIOTHERAPY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMISTRY
ENZYMES
GLOBULINS
GLUCOPROTEINS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALLOPROTEINS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
SACCHARIDES
THERAPY
560115* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals- In Man- (-1987)