Vomiting · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine may leads to higher vomiting (adverse effect) compared with no treatment/placebo (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Asthenia · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine showed no clear difference in asthenia (adverse effect) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
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
Nausea · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine may leads to higher nausea (adverse effect) compared with no treatment/placebo (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary flow rate (stimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine led to higher salivary flow rate (incidence of > 0.1 g saliva/5 min, unstimulated) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse events: hypotension · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Amifostine may leads to higher hypotension (adverse effect) compared with no treatment/placebo (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Quality of life (Patient Benefit Questionnaire, 10-point scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
It is very uncertain whether amifostine changes quality of life (Patient Benefit Questionnaire, 10-point scale) compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).
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
Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
1 finding from 1 review
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
Quality of life · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
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 (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
Allergic adverse events · 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 allergic response (adverse effect) compared with amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review