A form of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) that is made in the laboratory. KGF stimulates the growth of cells that line the surface of the mouth and intestinal tract. Kepivance is used to prevent and treat oral mucositis (mouth sores) caused by high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy in leukemia and lymphoma. It is also being studied in the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) in other types of cancer. Kepivance is a type of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor.

A recombinant form of the endogenous human keratinocyte growth factor with cell growth promoting activity. Palifermin acts in the manner similar to the endogenous keratinocyte growth factor that binds to keratinocyte growth factor receptors on the epithelial cell surface in the lining of mouth and gastrointestinal tract. This results in stimulation of epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and upregulation of cytoprotective mechanisms.