Meta-analysis finds photobiomodulation therapy effective for oral mucositis in cancer patients

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Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Published May 8, 2026 Medically reviewed May 12, 2026 Study authors: G Rojas, R Escalante-Parra, A Duarte, G Terán-Ángel, P Moreno-Garces, Fm Silveira, C Sanchez-Ramirez PubMed ↗ DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Consider photobiomodulation therapy for oral mucositis management in cancer patients, based on meta-analysis evidence.

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for oral mucositis in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The analysis synthesized data from 329 patients.

The primary finding was that PBMT was highly effective for managing oral mucositis, with a pooled relative risk of 0.50 (95% CI 0.35-0.73), indicating a reduction. The authors also synthesized evidence on secondary outcomes, including incidence, severity, quality of life, treatment adherence, and healthcare costs.

Key limitations noted by the authors include moderate heterogeneity (I²=40%) and variability in PBMT protocols, with wavelengths ranging from 635-980 nm and application times from 3-20 seconds. The certainty of evidence was based on recent randomized trials with low risk of bias and publication bias.

Practice relevance is that PBMT may be a useful adjunct for managing oral mucositis during cancer therapy, potentially improving patient outcomes. However, the findings are associations from pooled data and do not establish direct causation.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

Sample sizen = 329

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

PMID42098536

View Original Abstract ↓

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate and update the evidence about photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) as a therapy for the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis (OM) induced by antineoplastic therapies. METHODS: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase as the primary databases. Additional searches were performed in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and LILACS through the BIREME platform, as well as in Redalyc and the Wiley Online Library, covering the period from 2020 to 2026. Only randomized clinical trials published within the last six years investigating PBMT as a preventive or therapeutic intervention for oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were included. RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 329 patients were included. PBMT proved to be highly effective in the management of OM (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.35-0.73). Moderate heterogeneity was observed across studies (I = 40%). PBMT protocols varied, with laser wavelengths ranging from 635 to 980 nm, most commonly 660 nm for intraoral (IO) application. Application sites included IO and/or extraoral (EO) approaches, with IO application times ranging from 3 to 20 s. OM was consistently assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria across all studies. The included trials demonstrated a low risk of bias and publication bias. CONCLUSION: Evidence from recent randomized clinical trials confirms that PBMT is highly effective for the management of oral mucositis, reducing its incidence and severity, improving quality of life and treatment adherence, and potentially lowering healthcare costs during cancer therapy.