Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

7 questions · 7 findings · 1 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 4 · 57.1%Very low 2 · 28.6%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 1 · 14.3%High 0 · 0%

Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva

Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Bethanechol showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with artificial saliva; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 weeks postRT
RR 1.59 [0.43, 5.84]
1 study · 43 participants
GRADE not reported

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

Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Palifermin showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
42 to 72 months from baseline
HR 1.00 [0.72, 1.39]
3 studies
Moderate

Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous)

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

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
48 months postRT
HR 1.36 [0.89, 2.10]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Pilocarpine vs no treatment/placebo

Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes overall survival compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to and including 6 months postRT
RR 1.07 [0.80, 1.43]
1 study · 60 participants
Very low

Chinese medicine vs no treatment/placebo

Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
12 months postRT
Insufficient evidence to determine any effect on overall survival (Hu 2005; Analysis 6.4)
1 study
GRADE not reported

Amifostine vs no treatment/placebo

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

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
12 to 24 months postRT
HR 1.18 [0.85, 1.66]
2 studies · 271 participants
Very low

Amifostine 200 mg/m2 three times weekly vs Amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly

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

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Insufficient evidence reported on overall survival or locoregional tumour control (Analysis 4.2; 4.3)
1 study
GRADE not reported