Oral pseudomembranous candidiasis, herpes simplex virus-1 infection, and oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mouthwash

O Nicolatou-Galitis; K Dardoufas; P Markoulatos; A Sotiropoulou-Lontou; K Kyprianou; G Kolitsi; G Pissakas; C Skarleas; V Kouloulias; V Papanicolaou; N J Legakis; A Velegraki

doi:10.1034/j.1600-0714.2001.030008471.x

Oral pseudomembranous candidiasis, herpes simplex virus-1 infection, and oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mouthwash

J Oral Pathol Med. 2001 Sep;30(8):471-80. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0714.2001.030008471.x.

Authors

O Nicolatou-Galitis¹, K Dardoufas, P Markoulatos, A Sotiropoulou-Lontou, K Kyprianou, G Kolitsi, G Pissakas, C Skarleas, V Kouloulias, V Papanicolaou, N J Legakis, A Velegraki

Affiliation

¹ Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Greece. [email protected]

PMID: 11545238
DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0714.2001.030008471.x

Abstract

Oral pseudomembranous candidiasis (OPC) was evaluated in 61 patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy (RT). Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) reactivation was also investigated in 14 patients. According to the agreed protocol, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mouthwash was administered in 46 patients with radiation-induced ulcers. Candidiasis was diagnosed in 31 patients. Candida albicans was the most frequent isolate. Multiple Candida species were isolated from the lesions of four patients. Concurrent candidiasis and radiation-induced ulcers were observed in 17 patients. Viral culture and the polymerase chain reaction disclosed the presence of HSV-1 in five patients. Twenty of the 46 patients, with initial mucositis grade II and grade III, completed RT with mucositis grade I, indicating a beneficial effect of GMCSF mouthwash, although further controlled studies are necessary to verify that. In conclusion, OPC was an important infection in patients undergoing radiotherapy. The role of HSV-1 in oral mucositis during head and neck radiotherapy needs additional study.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adenocarcinoma / radiotherapy
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Candida / classification
Candida albicans / classification
Candidiasis, Oral / drug therapy
Candidiasis, Oral / etiology*
Carcinoma / radiotherapy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy
Dose Fractionation, Radiation
Female
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / administration & dosage
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use*
Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Herpesvirus 1, Human / genetics
Herpesvirus 1, Human / growth & development
Humans
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / radiotherapy
Male
Middle Aged
Mouthwashes / therapeutic use*
Oral Ulcer / drug therapy
Oral Ulcer / etiology
Osteosarcoma / radiotherapy
Pilot Projects
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Radiation Injuries / drug therapy
Radiation Injuries / etiology*
Stomatitis / classification
Stomatitis / drug therapy
Stomatitis / etiology*
Stomatitis, Herpetic / drug therapy
Stomatitis, Herpetic / etiology*
Treatment Outcome
Virus Activation

Substances

Mouthwashes
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor