To the Editor: In the editorial by Garfunkel (Dec. 16 issue),1which accompanies the report by Spielberger et al.2 about theaction of palifermin in oral mucositis, Garfunkel cites otherapproaches but does not mention that low-level laser therapymight be useful in decreasing the severity of chemotherapy-associatedoral mucositis.3 We believe that low-level laser therapy shouldbe included in a randomized trial of palifermin in patientswith oral mucositis.
Ahmad Awada, M.D., Ph.D. Marie-Thérèse Genot,M.D. Jean Klastersky, M.D., Ph.D. Jules Bordet Institute B-1000 Brussels, Belgium ahmad.awada@bordet.be
Garfunkel AA. Oral mucositis -- the search for a solution. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2649-2651. [Free Full Text]
Spielberger R, Stiff P, Bensinger W, et al. Palifermin for oral mucositis after intensive therapy for hematologic cancers. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2590-2598. [Free Full Text]
Genot M-T, Klastersky J. Low level laser for prevention and therapy of oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Curr Opin Oncol (in press).