Abstract

PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS OF ORAL MUCOSITIS: A SYSTEMIC REVIEW

*Alkesh Patel, Ishan Panchal, Samir Shah and Prof. Dr. Dhrubo Jyoti Sen

ABSTRACT

Oral mucositis is characterized by erythema, inflammation and ulceration of oral mucosa as a result of neoplasm treatment like chemotherapy, radiation and patients undergoing transplantation including stem cell transplantation. During transplantation patients receiving higher dose of chemotherapy for immunosuppression like combination of busulfan and cyclophosphamide for prevent graft rejection. Oral mucositis is the second most vulnerable side effect of chemotherapy. The severity of disease is up to level that person who is affected may not be able to speak and chew solid food stuff. Sometimes because of much deliberate effect of oral mucositis, it becomes compulsory to discontinue chemotherapy to prevent generation of oral mucositis. Many people get fungal infection during the course of oral mucositis and it will turn to even dangerous condition because of immunosuppressant effect of chemotherapy. Treatments available for oral mucositis majorly remain symptomatic relief except one palifermin, a keratinocyte growth promoting substance. The exact condition of oral mucositis is not easy to develop in animal models because of the difference in physiology of oral cavity much differ compare to human in sense of presence of keratin content in epithelium and highly resilience nature of oral mucosa. Many biological mediators are involved in oral mucositis which may provide future target for generation of newer, more effective and specific targeted delivery.

Keywords: Keywords: Oral mucositis, Chemotherapy, Radiation, Palifermin.