Evaluation of Light Therapy in the treatment of Oral Candidiasis in patients undergoing Radiotherapy in the head and neck region

Clinical and microbiological evaluation of Photodynamic Therapy in the treatment of Oral Candidiasis in patients undergoing Radiotherapy in the head and neck region

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

REBEC

Registry ID

RBR-2fbkhdb

Enrollment

Registered

2026-06-02

Start date

2025-08-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-06-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Oral Candidiasis

Interventions

This is a prospective, interventional, and controlled study involving a total of 40 participants undergoing radiotherapy in the head and neck region diagnosed with oral candidiasis. Participants who m

Eligibility

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Adult patients aged 18 years or older; both sexes; diagnosis of head and neck cancer; eligible for antineoplastic radiotherapy alone or in combination with surgery and or chemotherapy; clinical diagnosis of oral candidiasis

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: History of allergy or hypersensitivity to photodynamic therapy or conventional antifungal agents; presence of severe oral infections or active viral or bacterial infections; autoimmune diseases; severe immunosuppression; use of high-dose corticosteroids; severe uncontrolled renal, hepatic, or cardiac comorbidities; pregnancy or breastfeeding; terminal head and neck cancer; life expectancy shorter than 6 months; patients receiving palliative radiotherapy with fewer than 30 radiotherapy sessions; current use of local or systemic treatment for oral candidiasis; limited mouth opening

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
A reduction in fungal infection is expected, assessed through intraoral clinical examination and clinical lesion scoring, as well as a reduction in the fungal load of Candida spp., measured in colony forming units per milliliter, after antimicrobial photodynamic therapy compared with conventional nystatin treatment. Data will be collected before the beginning of treatment and after completion of the interventions	—

Measure

Time frame

A reduction in fungal infection is expected, assessed through intraoral clinical examination and clinical lesion scoring, as well as a reduction in the fungal load of Candida spp., measured in colony forming units per milliliter, after antimicrobial photodynamic therapy compared with conventional nystatin treatment. Data will be collected before the beginning of treatment and after completion of the interventions

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
An improvement in painful symptoms and oral burning sensation reported by the participants is expected, in addition to comparison of the therapeutic response between the experimental and control groups throughout the clinical and microbiological follow up. Data will be evaluated before the beginning of treatment, during the interventions, and after completion of the clinical follow up	—

Countries

Contacts

Public ContactIvana Brandão

Universidade Federal do Ceará

ivana.brandao41@gmail.com+55(85)994069015

Outcome results

None listed

Source: REBEC (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jun 29, 2026