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Mucositis is the painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, usually as an adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cancer. [1] Mucositis can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but oral mucositis refers to the particular inflammation and ulceration that occurs ...
One study [2] found that infection was the cause of pain in four percent of nearly 300 cancer patients referred for pain relief. Another report [3] described seven patients, whose previously well-controlled pain escalated significantly over several days. Antibiotic treatment produced pain relief in all patients within three days. [4]
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) resides in the family of fibroblast growth factor (FGF). The drug's target is the KGF receptor. Through the binding of this drug to the aforementioned receptor, Palifermin stimulates epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, and upregulation of cytoprotective mechanisms to reduce the symptoms of oral mucositis.
Each drug is listed once (at present), though it might fall in more than one subsection. A full alphabetical listing is included after the categorical listing. The agents in this list are often combined into chemotherapy agent for polychemotherapy (combination chemotherapy).
As most chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells in this manner, defective apoptosis allows survival of these cells, making them resistant. Many chemotherapy drugs also cause DNA damage, which can be repaired by enzymes in the cell that carry out DNA repair. Upregulation of these genes can overcome the DNA damage and prevent the induction of apoptosis.
Pain managers should clearly explain to the patient the cause of the pain and the various treatment possibilities, and should consider, as well as drug therapy, directly modifying the underlying disease, raising the pain threshold, interrupting, destroying or stimulating pain pathways, and suggesting lifestyle modification. [27]
Methotrexate was originally developed and continues to be used for chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with other agents.It is effective for the treatment of several cancers, including solid tumours of breast, head and neck, lung, bladder, as well as acute lymphocytic leukemias, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, osteosarcoma, and choriocarcinoma and other trophoblastic neoplasms.
Gelclair can be used in the management of the painful symptoms of oral mucositis usually caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment for cancer but can also be caused by medication, disease, oral surgery, stress, traumatic ulcers caused by dental braces and dentures, and ageing. Gelclair can be used by patients of all ages.