Oral cooling (cryotherapy), an effective treatment for the prevention of 5-fluorouracil-induced stomatitis.

Abstract

Recently, a randomised study demonstrated the utility of oral cooling (cryotherapy) in the prevention of 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-induced stomatitis. In order to verify these results a confirmatory study, using identical treatment regimen, was initiated. 84 patients treated with a 5-FU-containing regimen were randomised to a control arm or to receive oral cryotherapy. End point evaluation was obtained by a global assessment of the physician's judgement and patients' description of mucositis severity graded 0-4. Mucositis was significantly reduced by cryotherapy considering both the first cycle of therapy (the mean toxicity score for cryotherapy was 0.59 and it was 1.1 for the control group, P < or = 0.05) and all the chemotherapeutic courses (the mean toxicity score for cryotherapy was 0.36 when it was 0.69 for the control group, P < or = 0.05). In conclusion, the present study confirms that cryotherapy can decrease 5FU-induced stomatitis and should be recommended for patients receiving bolus 5FU-containing regimens.

• Authors: S Cascinu, A Fedeli, S L Fedeli, G Catalano
• Journal: European journal of cancer. Part B, Oral oncology (Eur J Cancer B Oral Oncol) Vol. 30B Issue 4 Pg. 234-6 (Jul 1994) ISSN: 0964-1955 [Print] England
• PMID: 7950836 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cryotherapy
• Female
• Fluorouracil (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Smoking
• Stomatitis (chemically induced, prevention & control)