What do systematic reviews say?

Hyperbaric oxygen vs air breathing to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Hyperbaric oxygenation for tumour sensitisation to radiotherapy 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Probiotics vs other active intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Probiotics for the prevention or treatment of chemotherapy‐ or radiotherapy‐related diarrhoea in people with cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Probiotics vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Probiotics for the prevention or treatment of chemotherapy‐ or radiotherapy‐related diarrhoea in people with cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Phenytoin mouthrinse vs placebo

Phenytoin mouthrinse led to lower quality of life compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  MD -15.10 [-26.04, -4.16]
  1 study · 12 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Restrictive versus liberal red blood cell transfusion strategies for people with haematological malignancies treated… 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 431 participants
  Very low

Minimally invasive surgery vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Minimally invasive surgery versus radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy for small‐volume primary oropharyngeal carcinoma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Pilocarpine vs no treatment/placebo

It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes quality of life (McMaster HNRQ, 1-7 scale) compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to and including 6 months postRT
  MD 0.20 [-0.19, 0.59]
  1 study · 90 participants
  Very low

Combined HBO and perioperative antibiotics prior to dental implant therapy vs antibiotics alone

• Interventions for preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in adults receiving head and neck radiotherapy 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  This comparison was only made in 1 study which reported no serious adverse events associated with HBO therapy. Quality of life measures (oral status, functioning, satisfaction) showed emotional functioning and pain…
  1 study · 26 participants
  Very low

Antimicrobial lozenge vs placebo

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Over 6 months
  Insufficient evidence of a difference for global quality of life, mouth pain RR 0.94 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.33), sore/burning mouth RR 0.95 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.35), throat pain RR 0.79 (95% CI 0.56 to 1.12) (Duncan 2005)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Dose‐escalated RT vs conventional dose RT

• Dose‐escalated radiotherapy for clinically localized and locally advanced prostate cancer 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 300 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• The role of additional radiotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Amifostine vs no treatment/placebo

It is very uncertain whether amifostine changes quality of life (Patient Benefit Questionnaire, 10-point scale) compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 months postRT
  MD 0.70 [0.20, 1.20]
  1 study · 180 participants
  Very low

Selenium vs no intervention

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 weeks after end of RT
  Insufficient evidence of differences for loss of taste or dysphagia; data largely unusable (no standard deviations). Ageusia milder in selenium group (not significant); dysphagia significant only at week 7 (P = 0.05)…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs placebo or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin vs 5‐fluorouracil plus cisplatin plus radiotherapy

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract carcinomas 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Exercise vs control

• Exercise for women receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 68 participants
  Low

Exercise vs control

• Exercise for women receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  12 studies · 1012 participants
  Moderate

Whole gland primary cryotherapy vs external beam radiotherapy (EBRT)

• Primary cryotherapy for localised or locally advanced prostate cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 195 participants
  Very low