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

<bold>Opinion Statement: </bold>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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]