University of Buffalo researchers in New York, headed by Dr Praveen Arany, assistant professor in the School of Dental Medicine, have received part of a $1.5 million grant to investigate light therapy as a replacement for prescription opioids in treating oral mucositis, painful ulcers and swelling in the mouth that result from chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.

Funded by the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s Small Business Innovation Research program, the grant will help researchers determine the effectiveness of photobiomodulation, a form of low-dose light therapy, in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis after cancer treatment.

The grant was awarded to Cleveland-based MuReva Phototherapy, a spinoff company of lighting solutions manufacturer Lumitex, to further develop the light technology. UB received $511,000 of the award to test the technology.

The research will be performed in collaboration with faculty from the departments of Radiation Medicine and Oral Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“The current epidemic of opioids has impacted cancer care, especially for cancer pain relief,” Dr Arany says. “This treatment offers a simple, non-drug, non-invasive treatment approach to relieve pain and improve quality of life for cancer patients.

“The striking lab and clinical evidence for photobiomodulation treatments in supportive cancer care has demonstrated tremendous promise and is becoming popular.”