Mucositis

Mucositis refers to the inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal lining caused by anti-cancer therapies, typically seen in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, resulting in signs and symptoms such as pain, xerostomia, dysphagia, diarrhea, infection, malnutrition and many more. It is common and highly burdensome but remains poorly managed.

The Mucositis Study Group’s major goal is to improve outcomes of patients experiencing oral and gastrointestinal mucositis. Working closely with the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO), our objectives are to improve the design and conduct of clinical investigations, disseminate up-to-date educational information regarding mucositis, and serve as a resource for investigators in basic science, clinical, and health services research, as well as for industrial collaborators, clinicians, and patients.

Topics of research within the Mucositis Study Group include:

• Mucosal immunology and host-microbiome interactions
• Enteric nervous system dysfunction
• Symptom clusters related to mucosal damage
• Mucositis assessment tools
• Emerging oral and gastrointestinal toxicities caused by novel anti-cancer therapies

We are interested in diversifying our membership and encourage people from the following disciplines to consider becoming a member of the Mucositis Study Group:

• Dentists and oral medicine specialists
• Dieticians and other nutrition-based allied health professionals
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Basic and translational scientists (e.g. microbiome scientists, immunologists)
• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Haematologists
• Gastroenterologists
• AI/ML experts and bioinformaticians