title: Iseganan HCl: a novel antimicrobial agent.
abstract: Iseganan HCl is an antimicrobial peptide under development for the prevention of oral mucositis, a severe consequence of some chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimens. Several attributes of iseganan make it an optimal candidate for study in this clinical situation where both local and systemic host defenses may be impaired. These include broad spectrum and rapid bactericidal activity, a lack of observed resistance and cross-resistance and stability in biological fluids. Clinical trials of patients receiving stomatotoxic chemotherapy followed by a haematopoietic stem cell transplant show iseganan reduces the occurrence of oral mucositis and ameliorates sequelae such as mouth pain, throat pain and difficulty swallowing. Iseganan is well-tolerated, which is partly attributable to a lack of systemic absorption following topical oral administration. Other promising areas of investigation include topical oral application for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia and nebulisation for treatment of chronic lung infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. Future studies will expand on the role of iseganan as a novel antimicrobial.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Leukaemia, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 428, Houston, TX 77030, USA. fgiles@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Redman
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazji
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C119872:antimicrobial peptide IB-367