Growth factors in the treatment of oral mucositis in patients receiving treatment for head and neck cancers - A review

Many cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of both, especially in head and neck region, are inherently prone to develop a frequent complication i.e. oral mucositis. This acute and distressing sequel of cancer therapy drastically impairs routine activities such as mastication, deglutition, and speech thereby affecting the overall quality of life of these patients. Because of the complex nature of oral mucositis, its management becomes challenging. An in-depth understanding of the etiopathogenesis of oral mucositis has provided numerous treatment options, but none with a proper guideline. Recent years have also seen a considerable emphasis on growth factors, which has led to the recognition that they might have potential in the therapeutic management of these complications, either by regeneration through biomimetic or mimicking the processes that occur during embryonic and post-natal development. As the understanding of the biological and physiological role of growth factors increases, it is certain that they will play an increasingly important role in clinical insights. This review attempts to highlight the role of growth factors in the management of oral mucositis.