Protection Against Chemotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal Mucositis by a Sphingosi

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mucositis caused by excessive inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract is a costly and debilitating toxicity commonly experienced by patients receiving radiation and/or drugs as cancer therapy. Sphingolipids are being increasingly recognized as key mediators of inflammation, and are known to be essential for signaling by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF?) and IL-4 that are of central importance in mucositis. In particular, sphingosine1-phosphate (S1P) within gastrointestinal cells generated in response to many common anticancer drugs is critical for the recruitment and activation of neutrophils that escalate inflammatory processes in mucositis. Therefore, disruption of chemotherapy-induced S1P production is a new targeted approach to the prevention and/or treatment of mucositis. Because of the pivotal roles of sphingosine kinases (SKs) in regulating inflammation and tumor growth, Apogee Biotechnology Corporation is developing SK inhibit