TNF and oral mucositis: Phases 2 and 3 of oral mucositis are related to the activation and production ofcytokines, and this seems to be mediated by oxidative stress.5 The contemporary pathobiological model includes activation of nucleartranscription factor (NF-κB), which in turn positively regulates up to 200 genes,including genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosisfactor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).4,8