What do systematic reviews say?

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), intravenous led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with chlorhexidine mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Children
  RR 0.67 [0.54, 0.85]
  1 study · 90 participants
  GRADE not reported

Transforming growth factor-beta(2) (TGF-beta2) vs placebo

Transforming growth factor-beta(2) (TGF-beta2) showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.10 [0.01, 1.71]
  1 study · 13 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), oral spray vs placebo

Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), oral spray led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.52 [0.35, 0.79]
  1 study · 99 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), lower dose (336 mg) vs Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), higher dose (2688 mg)

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Insufficient evidence to determine whether lower (336 mg) or higher (2688 mg) dose performs better (Analyses 11.1 to 11.3); no pooled estimate reported
  1 study · 66 participants
  GRADE not reported

Camomile vs placebo

Camomile showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.89 [0.62, 1.27]
  1 study · 164 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sucralfate vs placebo or usual care

Sucralfate showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/usual care (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.98 [0.88, 1.1]
  3 studies · 222 participants
  Moderate

Glutamine vs placebo or usual care

Glutamine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/usual care; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.78 [0.57, 1.08]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo or no active treatment

Laser (low level) showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/sham/no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.91 [0.71, 1.17]
  5 studies · 234 participants
  GRADE not reported

Polaprezinc vs Azulene

Polaprezinc showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with azulene; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.82 [0.63, 1.06]
  1 study · 31 participants
  GRADE not reported

Histamine gel vs placebo

Histamine gel showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.35 [0.91, 1.99]
  1 study · 39 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine vs placebo/no treatment

Chlorhexidine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.76 [0.47, 1.24]
  4 studies · 454 participants
  Low

Chlorhexidine vs Cryotherapy (ice chips) 60 minutes

Chlorhexidine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with cryotherapy (ice chips); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.03 [0.76, 1.41]
  1 study · 133 participants
  GRADE not reported

Allopurinol mouthrinse vs placebo/no treatment

Allopurinol mouthrinse showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.77 [0.5, 1.19]
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intestinal trefoil factor vs placebo

Intestinal trefoil factor led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.52 [0.35, 0.79]
  1 study · 99 participants
  GRADE not reported

Povidone vs Water

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Zinc sulphate vs placebo

Zinc sulphate showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.88 [0.69, 1.11]
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

Amifostine vs placebo/no treatment

Amifostine probably leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.95 [0.91, 0.99]
  3 studies · 430 participants
  Moderate

Benzydamine vs placebo

Benzydamine led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.67 [0.47, 0.97]
  1 study · 36 participants
  GRADE not reported

Traumeel vs placebo

Traumeel showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.71 [0.49, 1.05]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prednisone vs placebo

Prednisone showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.03 [0.85, 1.24]
  1 study · 66 participants
  GRADE not reported