Effect of epidermal growth factor against radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the efficacy of oral recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) against radiation-induced oral mucositis in a rat model.


METHODS
Each of 35 Sprague-Dawley rats, 7 to 8 weeks of age and weighing 178 +/- 5 grams, was irradiated once in the head region with 25 Gy, using a 4-MV therapeutic linear accelerator at a rate of 2 Gy/min. The irradiated rats were randomly divided into four groups: those receiving no treatment (Group 1), those treated with vehicle only three times per day (Group 2), and those treated with 50 microg/mL (Group 3), or 100 microg/mL (Group 4) rhEGF three times per day.


RESULTS
Rats were monitored for survival rate and daily activity, including hair loss, sensitivity, and anorexia. We found that survival rate and oral intake were significantly increased and histologic changes were significantly decreased in the rhEGF-treated rats. There was no difference, however, between rats treated with 50 microg/mL or 100 microg/mL rhEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that orally administered rhEGF decreased radiation-induced oral mucositis in rats.
Lee
Sang-Wook
SW
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jung
Kwon Il
KI
Kim
Yeun Wha
YW
Jung
Heun Don
HD
Kim
Hyun Sook
HS
Hong
Joon Pio
JP
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor