Oral pseudomembranous candidiasis, herpes simplex virus-1 infection, and oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mouthwash.

Abstract

Oral pseudomembranous candidiasis (OPC) was evaluated in 61 patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy (RT). Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) reactivation was also investigated in 14 patients. According to the agreed protocol, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mouthwash was administered in 46 patients with radiation-induced ulcers. Candidiasis was diagnosed in 31 patients. Candida albicans was the most frequent isolate. Multiple Candida species were isolated from the lesions of four patients. Concurrent candidiasis and radiation-induced ulcers were observed in 17 patients. Viral culture and the polymerase chain reaction disclosed the presence of HSV-1 in five patients. Twenty of the 46 patients, with initial mucositis grade II and grade III, completed RT with mucositis grade I, indicating a beneficial effect of GMCSF mouthwash, although further controlled studies are necessary to verify that. In conclusion, OPC was an important infection in patients undergoing radiotherapy. The role of HSV-1 in oral mucositis during head and neck radiotherapy needs additional study.

• Authors: O Nicolatou-Galitis, K Dardoufas, P Markoulatos, A Sotiropoulou-Lontou, K Kyprianou, G Kolitsi, G Pissakas, C Skarleas, V Kouloulias, V Papanicolaou, N J Legakis, A Velegraki
• Journal: Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology (J Oral Pathol Med) Vol. 30 Issue 8 Pg. 471-80 (Sep 2001) ISSN: 0904-2512 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 11545238 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Mouthwashes
• Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (radiotherapy)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Candida (classification)
• Candida albicans (classification)
• Candidiasis, Oral (drug therapy, etiology)
• Carcinoma (radiotherapy)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (radiotherapy)
• Dose Fractionation, Radiation
• Female
• Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (radiotherapy)
• Herpesvirus 1, Human (genetics, growth & development)
• Humans
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (radiotherapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouthwashes (therapeutic use)
• Oral Ulcer (drug therapy, etiology)
• Osteosarcoma (radiotherapy)
• Pilot Projects
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Radiation Injuries (drug therapy, etiology)
• Stomatitis (classification, drug therapy, etiology)
• Stomatitis, Herpetic (drug therapy, etiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Virus Activation