Bovine Lactoferrin in Reducing Taste Disturbances in Patients With Colorectal Cancer Receiving Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma
* There are no restrictions on the amount or types of prior therapy
* Eligible patients must be receiving ongoing chemotherapy with an oxaliplatin containing-regimen which is planned to continue for at least one month following enrollment in this trial
* Any dose or schedule of oxaliplatin administration is allowed as long as patients have self-reported taste disturbance that has either:

  * 1\) developed since the initiation of oxaliplatin-based therapy, or
  * 2\) a pre-existing, treatment-induced taste disturbance has subjectively worsened since initiating oxaliplatin-based therapy
* Patients must have normal baseline self-reported taste perception prior to the development of colorectal carcinoma
* Life expectancy of \>= 3 months
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a subjective history of an extreme dry mouth syndrome that prevents them from producing adequate amounts of saliva (approximately 2 mL in 15-20 min)
* Patients known to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive
* Patients with any of the following conditions: untreated gastrointestinal reflux disease; untreated diabetes mellitus; active thrush; active oral infection; active mucositis
* Patients who are known to be pregnant or who are breastfeeding are excluded