Evaluation of topical external medicine for 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in hamsters

Eur J Pharmacol. 2006 Dec 3;551(1-3):152-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.09.005. Epub 2006 Sep 16.

Abstract

Oral ulcerative mucositis is a common and painful toxicity associated with chemotherapy for cancer. Current treatment for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis is largely palliative, and no adequate treatment with conclusive evidence exists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effectiveness of the topical external medicines used in clinical settings, and the authors investigated the effects of 1% azulene ointment, 0.12% dexamethasone ointment, and polaprezinc-sodium alginate suspension on an animal model for oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy. Oral mucositis was induced in hamsters through a combination treatment of 5-fluorouracil and mild abrasion of the cheek pouch. Each drug was administered topically to the oral mucosa of hamsters, and the process of healing of damaged oral mucositis was examined by measuring the size of the mucositis. Azulene ointment did not reduce the size of the mucositis compared with the vaseline-treated control group. Polaprezinc-sodium alginate suspension significantly improved the recovery from 5-fluorouracil-induced damage. In contrast, local treatment with dexamethasone exacerbated the mucositis markedly. These results suggested the healing effect of polaprezinc-sodium alginate suspension and the risk of steroids to severe oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Alginates
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Azulenes / therapeutic use
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Carnosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Carnosine / therapeutic use
  • Cricetinae
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects*
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Mesocricetus
  • Oral Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Oral Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Oral Ulcer / pathology
  • Organometallic Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Stomatitis / chemically induced
  • Stomatitis / drug therapy*
  • Stomatitis / pathology
  • Time Factors
  • Zinc Compounds / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Azulenes
  • Drug Carriers
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Zinc Compounds
  • polaprezinc
  • Dexamethasone
  • azulene
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Carnosine
  • Fluorouracil