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Management of Mucositis During Chemotherapy: From Pathophysiology to Pragmatic Therapeutics

  • Palliative Medicine (A Jatoi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis is a common condition caused by the breakdown of the mucosal barrier. Symptoms can include pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, which can often necessitate chemotherapy treatment breaks or dose reductions, thus compromising survival outcomes. Despite the significant impact of mucositis, there are currently limited clinically effective pharmacological therapies for the pathology. New emerging areas of research have been proposed to play key roles in the development of mucositis, providing rationale for potential new therapeutics for the prevention, treatment or management of chemotherapy-induced mucositis. This review aims to address these new areas of research and to comment on the therapeutics arising from them.

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Conflict of Interest

Ysabella Z.A. Van Sebille declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Romany Stansborough declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Hannah R. Wardill declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Emma Bateman has received support through a grant from Entera Health.

Rachel J. Gibson has received support through a grant from Onyx Pharmaceuticals and has also received compensation from Onyx Pharmaceuticals for service as a consultant.

Dorothy M. Keefe has received research funding through grants from Helsinn, Pfizer and Entera Health and has also received compensation from Helsinn and Munipharma for serving on speakers’ bureaus.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Ysabella Z. A. Van Sebille, Romany Stansborough, Hannah R. Wardill, Emma Bateman, Rachel J. Gibson & Dorothy M. Keefe

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  1. Ysabella Z. A. Van Sebille
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  2. Romany Stansborough
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  3. Hannah R. Wardill
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Correspondence to Ysabella Z. A. Van Sebille.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Palliative Medicine

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Van Sebille, Y.Z.A., Stansborough, R., Wardill, H.R. et al. Management of Mucositis During Chemotherapy: From Pathophysiology to Pragmatic Therapeutics. Curr Oncol Rep 17, 50 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-015-0474-9

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