Anti-inflammatory agents in the management of alimentary mucositis.
BACKGROUND
Alimentary mucositis is a significant complication of cancer therapy, with important clinical and economic implications.


METHODS
In June 2005, the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society for Oral Oncology conducted an evidence-based review of the literature on alimentary mucositis. The goal of this literature review was to update previously published guidelines for the management of mucositis.


RESULTS
This article reports the findings of the subgroup charged with reviewing the literature related to anti-inflammatory interventions. Considerable preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that the use of anti-inflammatory agents may be a promising approach to reduce the severity of mucositis. However, there was not enough evidence to support any new guidelines advocating the use of any specific anti-inflammatory intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, there is a need for well-designed clinical trials evaluating the use of anti-inflammatory agents in the management of mucositis.
Lalla
Rajesh V
RV
Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences MC1605, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263, Farmington Avenue, Farmington, 06030-1605, USA. lalla@nso2.uchc.edu
Schubert
Mark M
MM
Bensadoun
Rene-Jean
RJ
Keefe
Dorothy
D
D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001591:Benzydamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005480:Flurbiprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052016:Mucositis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008667:Metalloproteins; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D014227:Triazines; D016595:Misoprostol; D001591:Benzydamine; D005480:Flurbiprofen; D000493:Allopurinol; C005180:orgotein; C041836:irsogladine