title: Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on prevention of mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy.
abstract: Twenty-nine previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and pharynx underwent a treatment program with four courses of chemotherapy alternated with three courses of radiotherapy. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was administered at a dose of 5 micrograms/mg subcutaneously on the same day as radiation treatment in order to prevent mucositis. No grade 4 mucositis was reported; only four episodes of grade 2 mucositis and thirteen grade 2. Comparing these results with historical patients treated with the same chemotherapy-radiation program but without GM-CSF, the authors concluded that GM-CSF is an effective treatment for preventing mucositis produced by chemotherapeutic and/or radiotherapeutic interventions in patients at high risk of oropharyngeal mucosal damage.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Clinica Odontostomatologica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gherlone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosso
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor