Prevention and Treatment of Regimen-Related Mucosal Toxicity

Pp. 588-600 (13)

Joanne M. Bowen

Abstract

Current standard treatments for cancer are associated with major doselimiting toxic effects on healthy tissue. The mucosal layers of the body are particularly sensitive to regimen-induced damage, with patients suffering many unpleasant and potentially life-threatening side-effects. In recent years, there has been an increase in the understanding of the pathobiology of regimen-related mucosal injury which has lead to a number of exciting inventions for its prevention and treatment being recently patented. Agents such as growth factors, cytokines, receptor agonists/antagonists and anti-inflammatory agents are among those in development in this emerging field. The complexity of mucosal injury poses a challenge for researchers, however, rational targeting of intervention strategies to critical mechanisms will lead to further progress.

Keywords:

Mucosal injury, mucositis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, inflammation, apoptosis, growth factor, intestine, oral

Affiliation:

Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia