Objective: To investigate clinical efficacy of the Chinese medicine therapy in prevention and treatment of radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM). Method: Ninety-five cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy were randomly divided into test group of 47 cases and control group of 48 cases. The test group in the beginning of radiotherapy was treated with Chinese herbs by oral and gargle. The control group was treated with physiological gargle and taken symptomatic treatment when the OM above gradeⅡ. The treatment lasted from beginning of radiotherapy to one week after the end of radiotherapy or mucositis alleviated ≤ grade I. The time of OM in grade Ⅲ

Ⅱ

the accumulated dose of radiotherapy and the incidence of OM above grade Ⅲ at the end of radiotherapy were observed; The concentration of salivary epidermal growth factor (EGF) at the end of the radiotherapy was determined. Result: The appearance time of gradeⅡand Ⅲ in the test group was later than that in the control group (P<0.01). The incidence rate of the OM above grade Ⅲ in the test group was 31.91% at the end of radiotherapy

Lower than that in the control group (70.83%

P<0.01); The EGF in the test group was(652.5±120.6)ng·L-1 at the end of radiotherapy

higher than that in the control group(382.5±51.6 ng·L-1

P<0.01). Conclusion: The Chinese herbs and (oral and gargle) is worthwhile to be used in clinic

because they can increase the level of salivary EGF

protect oral mucosa

prevent and treat OM effectively

reduce the radiation-induced injury of oral mucosa and conduct the radiotherapy to be carried out smoothly.