Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Important Endpoints and Proliferative Markers to Assess Small Intestinal Injury and Adaptation using a Mouse Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis
Published on: May 12, 2019
Interaction between host cells and microbes in chemotherapy-induced mucositis
1School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5001, Australia. andrea.stringer@unisa.edu.au
Chemotherapy can cause mucositis by altering the gut microbiota. This review explores how changes in intestinal ecology link to signaling pathways involved in mucositis development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Chemotherapy frequently causes mucositis, a painful inflammation of the digestive tract lining.
- The intestinal microbiota's role in mucositis pathobiology is increasingly recognized.
- Chemotherapeutic agents significantly impact intestinal microbial composition and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and identify connections between known mucositis signaling pathways and chemotherapy-induced alterations in the intestinal microbiota.
- To explore the pathological consequences of dysbiosis following chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating mucositis, chemotherapy, and the intestinal microbiota.
- Analysis of signaling pathways implicated in mucositis pathogenesis.
- Correlation of identified pathways with changes in gut microbial ecology.
Main Results:
- Chemotherapy-induced dysbiosis is a significant factor in mucositis development.
- Specific microbial metabolites and host-microbe interactions influence inflammatory signaling.
- Altered intestinal ecology can exacerbate mucositis severity through various molecular pathways.
Conclusions:
- The intestinal microbiota plays a critical role in chemotherapy-induced mucositis.
- Targeting the gut microbiota or its associated signaling pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for mucositis prevention and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
The Oral Microbiota
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
The Tumor Microenvironment
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Microbe-Plant Interactions
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology

