Treatment of mucositis

A method for treatment of oral mucositis in an oral cavity of a host as a side effect of the host undergoing cancer therapy treatment, the cancer therapy treatment comprising one or both of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the method comprising:

• introducing a therapeutic composition into the oral cavity of the host, the therapeutic composition comprising:
• (i) a reverse-thermal gelation biocompatible polymer that is a polyoxyalkylene block copolymer, comprising at least one block of a first polyoxyalkylene and at least one block of a second polyoxyalkylene that is different than the first polyoxyalkylene;
• (ii) a carrier liquid interacting with the biocompatible polymer to impart reverse-thermal viscosity behavior to the therapeutic composition;
• and
• (iii) a pharmaceutical substance selected from the group consisting of glutathione and a precursor for glutathione biosynthesis, the pharmaceutical substance being effective for treating the oral mucositis at a mucosal site within the oral cavity;
• wherein, during the introducing the therapeutic composition is at an administration temperature that is at least 1° C. and that is lower than the physicological temperature of the host, at the administration temperature the therapeutic composition being in the form of a solution comprising the pharmaceutical substance and the biocompatible polymer dissolved in the carrier liquid, and after the introducing, at least a portion of the biocompatible polymer and at least a portion of the pharmaceutical substance adhere to a mucosal surface at the mucosal site;
• and
• wherein, the therapeutic composition exhibits the reverse-thermal viscosity behavior over at least some range of temperatures between the administration temperature and the physiological temperature of the host.