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Apoptotic and inflammation markers in oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy: preliminary report

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Abstract

Goal of work

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein p53 and anti-apoptotic proteins BCl-2 and MCl-1, as well as the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in patients developing mucositis during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Materials and methods

Thirty-five patients receiving radiotherapy for head/neck cancer were included in this study. Patients were examined before radiotherapy. Oral mucositis was recorded weekly during radiotherapy. Cytologic smears from the oral cavity were taken with a brush. Immunocytochemical staining was performed by the use of p53, BCl-2, MCl-1 TNF and IL-1β monoclonal antibodies.

Main results

P53 was expressed in 1 of 15 smears before the initiation of radiotherapy (6.5%) compared to 3 of 7 smears from patients with grade III mucositis (43%) during radiotherapy. BCl-2 was expressed in 15 of 15 smears before radiotherapy (100%) and in three of seven patients with grade III mucositis (43%) during radiotherapy. MCl-1 was expressed in 10 of 14 samples before radiotherapy (71.5%) and in two of seven patients with grade III (28.5%) mucositis during radiotherapy. TNF was expressed in 9 of 14 patients before radiotherapy (64%) and in six of seven patients with grade III mucositis during radiotherapy (86%). IL-1β was detected in 7 of 14 patients before radiotherapy (50%) compared to 6 of 7 patients with grade III mucositis during radiotherapy (86%).

Conclusion

Our preliminary results indicate an induction of apoptosis and inflammation in the oral mucosa in patients developing mucositis during radiotherapy for head/neck cancer.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Ms Antonia Sipsa and Ms Amalia Moumouri for their valuable technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dental Oncology Unit, Clinic of Hospital Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Arsinoi Xanthinaki & Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis

  2. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Pavlina Athanassiadou & Efstratios Patsouris

  3. Department of Cytopathology, General Hospital of Corfu, Corfu, Greece

    Maria Gonidi

  4. Department of Radiotherapy, “Attikon” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Vassilis Kouloulias

  5. 2nd Radiotherapy Department, “St. Savvas” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Anastasia Sotiropoulou-Lontou

  6. Department of Radiotherapy, “Alexandras” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    George Pissakas

  7. Department of Radiotherapy, “Euromedica-Athinaion” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Konstantinos Kyprianou

  8. Department of Radiotherapy, “Aretaieion” University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    John Kouvaris

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  1. Arsinoi Xanthinaki
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Correspondence to Arsinoi Xanthinaki.

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Xanthinaki, A., Nicolatou-Galitis, O., Athanassiadou, P. et al. Apoptotic and inflammation markers in oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy: preliminary report. Support Care Cancer 16, 1025–1033 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0379-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0379-8

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