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Treatment for Oral Mucositis—Current Options and an Update of Small Molecules Under Development

  • Palliative and Supportive Care (MP Davis, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Despite its history as one of the most impactful toxicities associated with cytotoxic cancer therapy, oral mucositis (OM) remains an unmet clinical need which affects hundreds of thousands of patients. Descriptions of its complex pathogenesis have provided mechanistic targets which are being exploited to develop an effective therapeutic intervention. Favorable results of recently completed clinical trials in which agents focused on interrupting the early stages of the mucositis biological cascade were assessed provide reason for optimism, not only for oral mucositis but also for halo indications which share its pathobiogenesis.

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References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Oral Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Primary Endpoint Solutions, Waltham, MA, USA

    Stephen T. Sonis

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  1. Stephen T. Sonis
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Correspondence to Stephen T. Sonis.

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Conflict of Interest

Stephen T. Sonis is an employee of Biomodels LLC and Primary Endpoint Solutions, LLC; both companies assist industry (including companies described in this paper), government, and academics to study and enable drugs, biologicals, and devices to treat patients for a wide range of indications including oral mucositis. Dr. Sonis does not have equity in any of the companies with which he works, nor does he receive direct compensation from them. Dr. Sonis is also a founder of Inform Genomics, Inc.; and is listed as an inventor on the following issued patents: 6458777, 6663850, 6713463, 6841578B2, 7297123, and 10,475539.

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Sonis, S.T. Treatment for Oral Mucositis—Current Options and an Update of Small Molecules Under Development. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 22, 25 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-021-00823-6

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