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Palifermin

In Myelotoxic Therapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

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Abstract

▴ Palifermin, a recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), mimics the actions of endogenous KGF and has shown efficacy in the management of myelotoxic therapy-induced oral mucositis in cancer patients.

▴ In a randomised, double-blind trial in patients with haemtaological malignancies receiving conditioning radiochemotherapy before undergoing autologous stem cell transplant, intravenous palifermin 60 μg/kg/day (two 3-day cycles, administered before myelotoxic therapy and after transplant) significantly reduced the median duration (primary endpoint) [3 vs 9 days] and incidence (63% vs 98%) of WHO grade 3 or 4 oral mucositis, compared with placebo.

▴ Patient-reported outcomes also showed significant improvement with palifermin treatment, which was associated with significant reductions in healthcare resource utilisation, compared with placebo.

▴ The drug was generally well tolerated, with skin/ oral toxicities, pain/arthralgias and dysaesthesia being the most common palifermin-related adverse reactions.

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Notes

  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 1311, New Zealand

    M. Asif A. Siddiqui & Keri Wellington

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  1. M. Asif A. Siddiqui
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  2. Keri Wellington
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Siddiqui, M.A.A., Wellington, K. Palifermin. Drugs 65, 2139–2146 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200565150-00008

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