NCT06708754

Impact of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on Biomarkers of Radiation Lymphedema and Fibrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

PBM-LEF Study: The Impact of PBM on Biomarkers of Radiation Lymphedema and Fibrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Feasibility Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: NYU Langone Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS) is a general side effect of radiation therapy (RT) which can adversely impact patients chronically over years typically triggered by an acute inflammatory state that evolves into chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling causing lymphedema, fibrosis, pain, atrophy and organ dysfunction. Some of the side effects that encompass RFS in the head and neck (HNC) population include decreased ability to fully open the mouth (trismus), neck pain and tightness (cervical dystonia), lymphedema (swelling), difficult with speech and swallowing and salivary hypofunction. Although there is Level I evidence demonstrating the benefit of Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy to prevent acute mucositis in HNC patients treated with RT, there is only limited data regarding its impact. This is a clinical trial to compare active treatment (PBM-therapy) with sham control (Sham- therapy). Up to 60 patients will be randomized to the two groups with equal allocation to estimate the efficacy (soft tissue thickness) of external Photobiomodulation (PBM) with light-emitting diode (LED) planned therapy for the treatment of radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who have undergone radiation therapy (RT) compared with sham control.

Conditions

• Radiation Lymphedema
• Radiation Fibrosis
• Head and Neck Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy	PBM is a low-intensity form of light therapy and employs visible or near-infrared (NIR) light generated from a laser or Light Emitting Diode (LED). In this study, PBM will be delivered using an LED device emitting 660 and 850nm with the purpose of research. The output power typically ranges from 5 to 200 mW with wavelengths ranging 600-1,000nm.
DEVICE	Sham PBM	Sham PBM will be delivered using a matching shame device that emits no output power.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-13
• Primary completion: 2028-02-13
• Completion: 2030-02-13
• First posted: 2024-11-27
• Last updated: 2026-03-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study