Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis: The Potentials of Metabolomics in the Management

Oral mucositis (OM) is a debilitating complication commonly experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. The pathogenesis of OM involves multifaceted interplay of inflammatory, immune, and cellular damage pathways triggered by cancer therapy. The pathogenesis of OM can be delineated into five overlapping phases: initiation, signaling, signal amplification, ulceration, and healing.

The large-scale study of metabolites which are small molecules involved in cellular processes, has emerged as a powerful tool in understanding complex conditions like oral mucositis (OM). This detailed literature review synthesizes current knowledge on the metabolomics of OM, with a focus on its application to understanding the pathogenesis, identifying predictive biomarkers, and exploring therapeutic strategies.

The field of metabolomics has revolutionized the understanding of oral mucositis by providing a dynamic snapshot of the metabolic alterations associated with it. It is a powerful tool for identifying potential biomarkers for early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment optimization.