Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on radiation-induced oral mucositis in male Syrian hamsters.

PURPOSE: Oral mucositis is a frequent and dose-limiting side effect of radiotherapy or chemotherapy in cancer patients. We investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on radiation-induced oral mucositis in male Syrian hamsters. METHOD: Oral mucositis was induced in male Syrian hamsters by a single dose of 30-Gy irradiation. Eight days after irradiation, treatment with gel containing trafermin (basic fibroblast growth factor) at 1 or 10 mug up to day-21 was initiated. Re-epithelialization was graded using a six-point scoring system for oral mucositis. Samples of hamster cheek pouches were removed for histopathologic analyses and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The oral-mucositis score decreased in a dose-dependent manner upon trafermin treatment. Trafermin (10 mug) improved oral mucositis significantly compared with vehicle. Histopathology revealed that the degree of re-epithelialization was improved by treatment with trafermin (10 mug) compared with treatment with vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of trafermin (10 mug) can prevent mucosal damage to hamster cheek pouches induced by irradiation.