Management of Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Evidence From Randomized Controlled Trails

Chemotherapy is a key treatment modality for resectable and unresectable gastrointestinal malignancies. Although systemic chemotherapy has clinical benefits, patients with gastrointestinal malignancies experience chemotherapy-related hematological and nonhematological adverse events. Among the various adverse events, chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (COM) is a common adverse event associated with chemotherapy used for gastrointestinal malignancies. Previous pivotal phase III studies reported that 20%-80% of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies had COM during chemotherapy treatment periods. Once patients have COM, they experience severe discomfort and an impaired ability to eat, swallow, and talk. In addition, the patients with COM need to suspension of chemotherapy or a dose reduction of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to manage COM to improve both the short- and long-term oncological outcomes. Recently, promising treatments for COM have been reported in randomized trials of gastrointestinal malignancies. This review summarizes the background, current status, and future perspectives of COM treatment in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.