title: Plasma prostaglandins in mucositis due to radiotherapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.
abstract: Patients with head and neck cancer were treated with synchronous radiotherapy and chemotherapy (vincristine, bleomycin and methotrexate). Before treatment, mucositis was absent and low amounts of prostaglandin-like material were extracted from peripheral plasma. As treatment proceeded mucositis occurred, and its degree correlated with the amount of prostaglandin-like material extracted from the plasma. Some patients were given moderate doses of drugs which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, but mucositis still occurred.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000097:blood*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011453:Prostaglandins