Protective Role of Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the most common cancers worldwide and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is still the mainstay of treatment. However, 5-FU is often implicated in inducing oral mucositis (OM), a painful inflammatory condition that may hinder oral intake, negatively impact quality of life and disrupt adherence with cancer treatment. Oxidative stress and inflammation play a vital role in OM pathogenesis. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that has demonstrated protective effects towards chemotherapy-induced mucosal damage in preclinical studies. Therefore, ALA may be a promising strategy to minimize or avoid 5-FU-induced oral mucositis in patients with colorectal cancer, which deserves additional clinical investigation.