Baseline characteristics of participants
| Parameter | All participants(n = 56) | Lysozyme group(n = 26) | Control group(n = 30) | p-value lysozyme vs. control group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years* | 65 (57–68) | 66 (59–70) | 64 (54–68) | 0.370 |
| Sex, male‡ | 50 (89) | 25 (96) | 25 (83) | 0.200 |
| Number of days from radiotherapy start to enrollment† | 14 (± 6) | 14 (± 7) | 14 (± 6) | 0.721 |
| Tumor site‡ | 0.400 | |||
| Oral cavity | 20 (35.7) | 7 (26.9) | 13 (43.3) | |
| Larynx | 19 (33.9) | 9 (34.6) | 10 (33.3) | |
| Pharynx | 12 (21.4) | 7 (26.9) | 5 (16.7) | |
| Larynx, pharynx | 4 (7.1) | 3 (11.5) | 1 (3.3) | |
| Nasal cavity | 1 (1.8) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.3) | |
| T stage‡ | > 0.900 | |||
| 0 | 2 (3.6) | 1 (3.8) | 1 (3.3) | |
| 1 | 1 (1.8) | 1 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) | |
| 2 | 13 (23.2) | 6 (23.1) | 7 (23.3) | |
| 3 | 17 (30.4) | 8 (30.8) | 9 (30.0) | |
| 4 | 8 (14.3) | 3 (11.5) | 5 (16.7) | |
| 4a | 10 (17.9) | 4 (15.4) | 6 (20.0) | |
| 4b | 4 (7.1) | 2 (7.7) | 2 (6.7) | |
| X | 1 (1.8) | 1 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) | |
| N category‡ | 0.200 | |||
| 0 | 18 (32.1) | 12 (46.2) | 6 (20.0) | |
| 1 | 5 (8.9) | 3 (11.5) | 2 (6.7) | |
| 2 | 10 (17.9) | 4 (15.4) | 6 (20.0) | |
| 2b | 11 (19.6) | 2 (7.7) | 9 (30.0) | |
| 2c | 3 (5.4) | 2 (7.7) | 1 (3.3) | |
| 3 | 8 (14.3) | 3 (11.5) | 5 (16.7) | |
| 3b | 1 (1.8) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.3) | |
| M category‡ | 0.700 | |||
| 0 | 53 (94.6) | 24 (92.3) | 29 (96.7) | |
| 1 | 2 (3.6) | 1 (3.8) | 1 (3.3) | |
| X | 1 (1.8) | 1 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) |
Data are presented as † mean (± standard deviation); * median (interquartile range, IQR), or as an ‡ absolute number (percentage of the total number of respondents in the subject group)