title: Management of radiation and chemotherapy related acute toxicity in gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: Possible toxic effects following radiation and chemotherapy of gastrointestinal tumours may cause a depletion of the mucosal barrier within the radiation volumes with severe mucositis. Diarrhoea, nausea, emesis and severe malabsorption followed by infections with dehydration and electrolyte disorders have to be encountered. For prevention and treatment of oropharyngeal mucositis an oral care protocol, oral cryotherapy together with benzydamine mouthwash may be recommended. Lower gastrointestinal diarrhoea is best treated by Octreotide (>100 μg s.c. bid) if loperamide is ineffective and amifostine (340 mg/m(2) IV) to prevent radiation proctitis. Enteral nutrition may be necessary with severe malnutrition or no enteral food intake for >7days or insufficient intake (<60%) for >10 days. With severe generalized mucositis or severe radiation induced enteritis parenteral nutrition will be initiated. Following the application of highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimen, 5-HT3 antagonists, dexamethasone and aprepitant, whereas in moderate risk levels 5-HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone may be sufficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Coburg Cancer Centre, Ketschendorferstrasse 33, 96450 Coburg, Germany. Electronic address: gg@diacura.de.
authors.forename: Gerhard G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Grabenbauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrenterology, Lichtenfels Cancer Centre, Germany.
authors.forename: Göbel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holger
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D019468:Disease Management; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Antiemetics; Diarrhoea; Enteral; Gastrointestinal cancer; Mucositis; Nausea; Nutrition; Parenteral; Supportive care; Vomiting