Innate immunity is a key component in the pathogenesis of oral mucositis, a universal toxicity of chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Dusquetide, a novel Innate Defense Regulator, has demonstrated both nonclinical and clinical efficacy in ameliorating severe oral mucositis (SOM). Long term follow-up studies from the Phase 2 clinical study evaluating dusquetide as a treatment for SOM in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving CRT have now been completed. Extended analysis indicates that dusquetide therapy was well-tolerated and did not contribute to increased infection, tumor growth or mortality. Potential ancillary benefits of duquetide therapy were also identified.
Keywords: CRT, chemoradiation therapy; Cancer supportive care; Dusquetide; HNC, head and neck cancer; Head and neck cancer; IDR, innate defense regulator; Immune; Innate; OM, oral mucositis; Oral mucositis; SOM, severe oral mucositis.