Dysphagia (grade >= 3, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine showed no clear difference in dysphagia (grade >= 3, 0-4 scale) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Disease-free survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine showed no clear difference in disease-free survival compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Progression‐free survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine showed no clear difference in progression-free survival compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Dysgeusia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine led to lower dysgeusia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine may leads to lower xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) compared with no treatment/placebo (low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
RR 0.35 [0.19, 0.67]
3 studies · 119 participants
Low
RR 0.70 [0.40, 1.23]
7 studies · 682 participants
Low
RR 0.66 [0.48, 0.92]
5 studies · 687 participants
Low
Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
It is very uncertain whether amifostine changes overall survival compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Locoregional control · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine showed no clear difference in locoregional tumour control compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies
Amifostine led to lower oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with placebo/no treatment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.75 [0.58, 0.96]
6 studies
GRADE not reported
Oral mucositis (any severity) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies
Amifostine probably leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies
It is very uncertain whether amifostine changes oral mucositis (severe) compared with placebo/no treatment (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Locoregional control · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine (intravenous) showed no clear difference in locoregional tumour control compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
HR 1.34 [0.76, 2.36]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine (intravenous) showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
HR 1.36 [0.89, 2.10]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine (intravenous) led to lower xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.
2 findings from 1 review
Survival (overall survival and locoregional control) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
1 finding from 1 review
Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine 200 mg/m2 three times weekly showed no clear difference in xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) compared with amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review