Gastrointestinal toxicity arising from the use of 5-fluorouracil in the form of mucositis in patients with malignant neoplasms of the colon and rectosigmoid deserves close attention. An analysis of the literature allows us to conclude that the risk of damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum during the use of chemotherapy with the inclusion of 5-fluorouracil is very high and amounts to 30-40%. In addition, there are many factors that can complicate the course of this undesirable phenomenon. These include the advanced age of patients, the presence of serious comorbidity and postoperative complications in patients, as well as infection with Helicobacter pylori. The lack of generally accepted recommendations for the prevention and treatment of damage to the lining of the stomach and duodenum during the use of chemotherapy is a serious problem in modern medical practice.
An important component of any cytotoxic drug therapy regimen prescribed for colon and rectosigmoid cancers is 5-fluorouracil. The drug is an antimetabolite of pyrimidine base -uracil, which is part of nucleotides on nitrogenous bases. 5-fluorouracil disrupts DNA synthesis and causes the formation of structurally imperfect RNA, inhibiting the division of tumor cells. In addition to effective antitumor activity, 5-fluorouracil has many side effects that affect the hematopoiesis system, liver, skin, nerve cells, cardiovascular and urinary systems. But most often the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines suffers. The urgency of the problem causes the lack of generally accepted principles of prevention and treatment of lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
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