title: [Therapeutic effect of rebamipide for oral mucositis associated with FEC therapy for breast cancer].
abstract: No guidelines for supportive drug therapy have been established for oral mucositis occurring during cancer chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined the progression of oral mucositis in 91 patients with breast cancer who received the 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC)-100 regimen between September 2007 and August 2008. Daily rebamipide was administered to patients with oral mucositis as per hospital protocol to evaluate the hypothesized preventive and mucosal protective effects of rebamipide(Mucosta®). Oral mucositis was observed in 43 patients (47%)during 4 courses of FEC. The median age of the patients was 55 years(range, 32-76 years). Of the 91 patients, 49 patients who did not receive rebamipide during the 4 FEC courses were classified as group A, 14 patients who received rebamipide before the start of FEC were classified as group B, and 28 patients who received rebamipide after developing oral mucositis were classified as group C. The incidence of oral mucositis at the start of FEC with or without rebamipide administration was observed in 5 patients in group B (36%) and 38 patients in groups A and C (49%) (p=0.3472). The mucositis grade was G1 in 4 patients and G2 in 1 patient in group B, and G1 in 20 patients and G2 plus G3 in 18 patients in groups A and C (p=0.2467). In group C, the grade decreased in 25 patients (89%) and did not occur (G0) in 17 patients (61%) during the next course, and 15 patients (54%) continued to the final course without any occurrence of mucositis. These results suggest that rebamipide is effective for the treatment of oral mucositis. Although significant differences were not observed in the groups, rebamipide has the potential to prevent development of oral mucositis and alleviate its symptoms, and seems promising as a new supportive drug therapy. We hope to verify the preventive and protective effects of rebamipide by conducting a prospective, randomized trial while treating oral mucositis with basic oral care and appropriate interventions provided by a multidisciplinary team.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nursing,National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enami
authors.forename: Norikazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasojima
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shikata
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masaoka
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bamba
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015363:Quinolones; D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine; D005472:Fluorouracil