Attenuation of radiation- and chemoradiation-induced mucositis using gamma-D-glutamyl-L-tryptophan (SCV-07)

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel immunomodulating peptide (SCV-07) in attenuating the course of radiation-induced mucositis in an established animal model of oral mucositis (OM).

In three separate experiments, golden Syrian hamsters received either an acute radiation challenge to the buccal mucosa of eight fractionated doses of 7.5 Gy of radiation over a 2-week-period, or a combination of acute radiation and cisplatin. In each experiment, animals were treated with varying doses or schedules of SCV-07 or placebo. OM was scored in a blinded fashion using digital images obtained during the experimental period.

We found that SCV-07 reduced the severity and duration of both acute and fractionated radiation-induced OM. Similarly, when radiation and chemotherapy were used to induce OM, treatment with SCV-07 significantly reduced the duration of ulcerative OM. The therapeutic benefit was dependent on both dose and schedule of administration.

Taken together, we found SCV-07 was able to modify the duration and severity of oral mucositis and was dependent on schedule and dose.