Caphosol
Encyclopedia
Caphosol is a mouth rinse
designed to moisten, lubricate and clean the oral cavity
including the mucosa
of the mouth, tongue
and oropharynx which has been shown to prevent and treat oral mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy
or chemotherapy
in the treatment of cancer
.
), regardless of the cause and regardless of whether the condition is temporary or permanent.
in patients undergoing bone marrow
transplantation. This trial demonstrated that Caphosol, used in conjunction with fluoride treatments, offers significant benefits over standard care, and is a significant adjunct in the management of oral mucositis associated with high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In this study the duration and severity of oral mucositis, and requirements for opioid medication, were evaluated in 95 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. The treatment arm received 4 topical fluoride
treatments plus Caphosol, while the control arm received a fluoride rinse (0.01% NaF aqueous solution). Patients were instructed to rinse 4 times per day at the start of cancer treatment and up to 10 times per day if they developed severe oral mucositis. The results showed:
- More than twice as many bone marrow transplant patients avoided oral mucositis by using Caphosol
- Duration of oral mucositis was almost halved in patients using Caphosol
- Caphosol patients used 72% less morphine for pain relief, with nearly 75% of patients requiring no morphine at all.
The registry analysed the effects of Caphosol in head and neck cancer patients along with the frequency of patient dosing, adherence to treatment, and patient and physician global satisfaction assessments. Patients at risk of oral mucositis were given Caphosol and instructed to rinse 4-10 times daily depending on the severity of the mucositis. Patients and physicians completed questionnaires on the symptoms of oral mucositis, mucositis severity and satisfaction with the treatment.
The results showed that 88% of patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for head and neck cancer who had used Caphosol experienced no or low grade (mild-moderate) oral mucositis, and 44% experienced mild or no oral pain. Furthermore, the vast majority of head and neck cancer patients (79%) and physicians (78%) were satisfied with Caphosol as a treatment for mucositis.
solution (Caphosol A) and a calcium
solution (Caphosol B) which, when combined in equal volumes, forms a supersaturated solution of both calcium and phosphate ion
s. Caphosol is usually taken 4 times a day, but can be taken up to 10 times a day when symptoms of mucositis are present. Caphosol is usually taken for the duration of cancer treatment, unless directed otherwise by a physician. Please note that caphosol is used as an oral rinse and is therefore not "taken". (It is not dangerous/harmful if consumed but consumption should be avoided, according to the manufacturer.)
Mouthwash
Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used to enhance oral hygiene. Some manufacturers of mouthwash claim that antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse kill the bacterial plaque causing cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. Anti-cavity mouth rinse uses fluoride to protect against tooth decay...
designed to moisten, lubricate and clean the oral cavity
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
including the mucosa
Mucous membrane
The mucous membranes are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs...
of the mouth, tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
and oropharynx which has been shown to prevent and treat oral mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
or chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
in the treatment of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Uses
Caphosol can be used as an adjunct to standard oral care in the prevention and treatment of the mucositis that may be caused by radiation therapy or high dose chemotherapy. Caphosol can also be used to treat dryness of the mouth and oropharynx (hyposalivation, xerostomiaXerostomia
Xerostomia is the medical term for the subjective complaint of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva. Xerostomia is sometimes colloquially called pasties, cottonmouth, drooth, or doughmouth. Several diseases, treatments, and medications can cause xerostomia. It can also be exacerbated by smoking or...
), regardless of the cause and regardless of whether the condition is temporary or permanent.
Bone Marrow Transplant
The safety and efficacy of Caphosol has been demonstrated in a double-blind prospective, randomized clinical trialClinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
in patients undergoing bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
transplantation. This trial demonstrated that Caphosol, used in conjunction with fluoride treatments, offers significant benefits over standard care, and is a significant adjunct in the management of oral mucositis associated with high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In this study the duration and severity of oral mucositis, and requirements for opioid medication, were evaluated in 95 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. The treatment arm received 4 topical fluoride
Fluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
treatments plus Caphosol, while the control arm received a fluoride rinse (0.01% NaF aqueous solution). Patients were instructed to rinse 4 times per day at the start of cancer treatment and up to 10 times per day if they developed severe oral mucositis. The results showed:
- More than twice as many bone marrow transplant patients avoided oral mucositis by using Caphosol
- Duration of oral mucositis was almost halved in patients using Caphosol
- Caphosol patients used 72% less morphine for pain relief, with nearly 75% of patients requiring no morphine at all.
Head and Neck Cancer
Caphosol has also been associated with low occurrence and severity of oral mucositis in a registry of cancer patients. The registry data provide further evidence to support the use of Caphosol to treat oral mucositis and suggest that Caphosol is associated with a low occurrence and severity of oral mucositis with high adherence to treatment as well as high levels of satisfaction from both patients and physicians.The registry analysed the effects of Caphosol in head and neck cancer patients along with the frequency of patient dosing, adherence to treatment, and patient and physician global satisfaction assessments. Patients at risk of oral mucositis were given Caphosol and instructed to rinse 4-10 times daily depending on the severity of the mucositis. Patients and physicians completed questionnaires on the symptoms of oral mucositis, mucositis severity and satisfaction with the treatment.
The results showed that 88% of patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for head and neck cancer who had used Caphosol experienced no or low grade (mild-moderate) oral mucositis, and 44% experienced mild or no oral pain. Furthermore, the vast majority of head and neck cancer patients (79%) and physicians (78%) were satisfied with Caphosol as a treatment for mucositis.
Taking Caphosol
Caphosol is a preparation comprising two separately packaged aqueous solutions, a phosphatePhosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
solution (Caphosol A) and a calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
solution (Caphosol B) which, when combined in equal volumes, forms a supersaturated solution of both calcium and phosphate ion
Ion
An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass between electrodes in a...
s. Caphosol is usually taken 4 times a day, but can be taken up to 10 times a day when symptoms of mucositis are present. Caphosol is usually taken for the duration of cancer treatment, unless directed otherwise by a physician. Please note that caphosol is used as an oral rinse and is therefore not "taken". (It is not dangerous/harmful if consumed but consumption should be avoided, according to the manufacturer.)