Mechanisms of PhotoBioModulation (PBM) focused on oral mucositis prevention and treatment: a scoping review

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is a severe complication cancer patients undergo when treated with chemoradiotherapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy also known as low-level laser therapy has been increasingly used for the treatment of such oral toxicity. The aim of this review is to discuss the mechanisms of photobiomodulation (PBM) regarding OM prevention and treatment, and more precisely to focus on the effect of PBM on tumor and healthy cells. METHODS: MEDLINE/PubMed, and google scholar were searched electronically. Selected studies were focusing on PBM effects on tumor and healthy cells. RESULTS: PBM interactions with the tissue and additional mechanism in OM therapy were detailed in this review. Moreover, this review highlighted a controversy about the carcinogenic effect of PBM. Indeed, Many studies reported that PBM could enhance malignant cell proliferation; suggesting that PBM would have no protective effect. In addition to acting on cancer cells, PBM may damage healthy cells. CONCLUSION: More prospective studies are needed to assess the effect of PBM on cancer cells in order to improve its use for OM prevention and treatment.