Therapeutic Proposals That Improve Morphological Changes Of 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Mucositis: a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to perform a literature review to investigate the existence of therapeutic proposals in 5-Fluoruracil-induced intestinal mucositis, which is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment. The literature review was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, and Bireme between 2015 and 2019. The descriptors used " intestinal mucositis" AND " intestinal mucositis and 5-Fluorouracil". We excluded from the review studies, double data studies, titles and/or summaries that did not address therapeutic proposals, and articles not available in full. Were selected thirty-two articles, which had the objective of evaluating the effect of substances on the model of intestinal mucositis induced by 5-Fluorouracil; it is emphasized that no articles with clinical evaluation were found. On the other hand, several animal studies are being carried out with the main objective being the evaluation of probiotics, products of natural origin, and drug repurposing for the treatment of intestinal mucositis. The main morphological parameters evaluated were histological changes, inflammatory parameters, oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, microbiota homeostasis, cell apoptosis, and the number of goblet cells that are altered during the pathophysiology of intestinal mucositis. It was verified that there is still no evidence in the literature for the existence of effective clinical treatment for intestinal mucositis induced by 5-Fluorouracil. However, promising preclinical results were found with extracts of traditional plants, substances isolated from plants, and probiotics with emphasis on those of the genus Lactobacillus.