Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of andolin capsule on the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the elderly patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing radiotherapy. Methods From January to December 2019, a total of 40 patients with NPC over 65 years old were enrolled in the Department of Cancer Radiotherapy. According to the random number table, all the cases were divided into two groups: the treatment group (20 cases) and the control group (20 cases). The two groups had the same radiotherapy plan. The treatment group added 4 capsules of andolin capsule three times a day until the end of radiotherapy. The incidence of oral mucositis, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and the apoptosis rate of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were observed. Results There was no significant difference in the severity of oral mucositis between the two groups before radiotherapy(P>0.05). After radiotherapy, the severity degree of oral mucositis in the control group was worse than that in the treatment group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of serum IL-6, TNF-α and the apoptosis rate of peripheral blood mononuclear cells between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). The levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α and the apoptosis rate of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the control group were higher than those in the treatment group after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions Andolin capsule can effectively reduce the progression of oral mucositis in the elderly patients with NPC during radiotherapy. The mechanism may be associated with the regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 levels and the protection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Key words: andolin capsule, aged, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, radiotherapy, inflammatory factors, apoptosis