Cancer Research Lab

A multi-center French study has shown that mucoadhesive buccal miconazole gel tablets is effective for the treatment of radiation-related oropharyngeal candidiasis.

The study, led by Rene-Jean Bensadoun of Antoine Lacassagne Center in Nice, is published in the January 1 issue of Cancer. It involved 282 patients with head and neck cancer.

Patients received 14 days of mucoadhesive buccal miconazole (Loramyc, BioAlliance Pharma, Paris, France), given as a single 50 mg tablet once a day, or miconazole oral gel, 500 mg, administered in four divided doses of 125 mg each.

The success rate was “statistically not inferior” with “a trend toward superiority” with mucoadhesive buccal miconazole compared with oral gel, with success rates of 56% and 49%, respectively.

Patients with multiple lesions had higher success rates with buccal tablets than with oral gel.

Clinical cure took place in 40% of patients, compared with cure rates of 21% and response rates of 53% with oral fluconazole, 50 mg for 14 days, as reported in other studies, the investigators report.

Compliance with mucoadhesive buccal miconazole was excellent, with more than 80% of patients completing treatment. The success rate of buccal miconazole is greater than with oral gel miconazole or systemic antifungal treatment, Dr. Bensadoun and colleagues conclude.