title: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of pentoxifylline for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.
abstract: Oral mucositis is a frequent side effect of cancer therapy. No effective method of prophylaxis is currently available. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of pentoxifylline to evaluate its potential in preventing mucositis in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Ten cancer patients were randomized for treatment with a 15-day course of 400 mg of pentoxifylline given orally four times daily. Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of bolus cisplatin and infusional 5-fluorouracil. Mucositis was evaluated with the use of the Oral Assessment Guide developed at the University of Nebraska. Patients completing two cycles of chemotherapy--one with pentoxifylline and one with placebo--were evaluated for prophylaxis efficacy. Comparison of the oral assessment scores of the two cycles with a two-sided Student's t test failed to demonstrate a cytoprotective effect for pentoxifylline over placebo. We conclude that pentoxifylline as given in this study is ineffective for preventing mucositis in patients receiving cisplatin and 5-FU.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Tucson Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Ariz., USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Verdi
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Garewal
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burkhead
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; D010431:Pentoxifylline; D005472:Fluorouracil