EFFECT OF GRANULOCYTE-MACROPHAGE COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ON PREVENTION OF MUCOSITIS IN HEAD AND NECK-CANCER PATIENTS TREATED WITH CHEMORADIOTHERAPY

Twenty-nine previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and pharynx underwent a treatment program with fou r courses of chemotherapy alternated with three courses of radiotherap y. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was admin istered at a dose of 5 mu g/mg subcutaneously on the same day as radia tion treatment in order to prevent mucositis. No grade 4 mucositis was reported; only four episodes of grade 2 mucositis and thirteen grade 2. Comparing these results with historical patients treated with the s ame chemotherapy-radiation program but without GM-CSF, the Authors con cluded that GM-CSF is an effective treatment for preventing mucositis produced by chemotherapeutic and/or radiotherapeutic interventions in patients at high risk of oropharyngeal mucosal damage.