New Research

THE USE OF LOW-LEVEL LIGHT THERAPY IN SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Mebis J

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with an incidence of 1.7 million in 2012. Breast cancer and its treatments can bring along serious side effects such as fatigue, skin toxicity, lymphedema, pain, nausea, etc. These can substantially affect the patients' quality of life. Therefore, supportive care for breast cancer patients is an essential mainstay in the treatment.

Low-level light therapy (LLLT) also named photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has proven its efficiency in general medicine for already more than 40 years. It is a noninvasive treatment option used to stimulate wound healing and reduce inflammation, edema, and pain. LLLT is used in different medical settings ranging from dermatology, physiotherapy, and neurology to dentistry. Since the last twenty years, LLLT is becoming a new treatment modality in supportive care for breast cancer.

For this review, all existing literature concerning the use of LLLT for breast cancer was used to provide evidence in the following domains: oral mucositis (OM), radiodermatitis (RD), lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

The findings of this review suggest that LLLT is a promising option for the management of breast cancer treatment-related side effects. However, it still remains important to define appropriate treatment and irradiation parameters for each condition in order to ensure the effectiveness of LLLT.

Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27539464

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NON-INVASIVE RED AND NEAR-INFRARED WAVELENGTH-INDUCED PHOTOBIOMODULATION: PROMOTING IMPAIRED CUTANEOUS WOUND HEALING

Yadav A, Gupta A

Abstract

The innumerable intricacies associated with chronic wounds have made the development of new painless, non-invasive, biophysical therapeutic interventions as the focus of current biomedical research. Red and near-infrared light-induced photobiomodulation therapy appears to emerge as a promising drug-free approach for promoting wound healing, reduction of inflammation, pain and restoration of function owing to penetration power in conjunction with their ability to positively modulate the biochemical and molecular responses.

This review will describe the physical properties of red and near-infrared light and their interaction with skin, and highlight their efficacy on wound repair and regeneration.

Near-infrared (800-830 nm) found to be most effective and widely studied wavelength range followed by red (630-680 nm) and 904 nm superpulsed light exhibiting beneficial photobiomodulatory effects on impaired dermal wound healing.

Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27943458