Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

488 questions · 522 findings · 13 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer

Sort:Best matchNewest Highest certainty Download CSV

No studies found 53 · 10.2%GRADE not reported 412 · 78.9%Very low 19 · 3.6%Low 25 · 4.8%Moderate 13 · 2.5%High 0 · 0%

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Adverse effects · People with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… led to higher adverse effects compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy); GRADE not reported.

9 findings from 1 review

Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Skin toxicity (lapatinib, all grades)
RR 2.02 [1.23, 3.32]
1 study · 67 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (gefitinib, all grades)
RR 1.04 [0.98, 1.11]
1 study · 226 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (lapatinib, all grades)
RR 15.53 [2.18, 110.55]
1 study · 67 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 6 more findings

Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Skin toxicity (erlotinib, all grades)
RR 6.57 [3.60, 12.00]
1 study · 191 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Mucositis (grades >=3)
RR 1.22 [0.96, 1.56]
2 studies · 286 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Mucositis (all grades)
RR 1.03 [0.94, 1.11]
2 studies · 286 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Skin toxicity (gefitinib, all grades)
RR 1.03 [0.82, 1.28]
2 studies · 286 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (grades >=3, pooled)
RR 1.11 [0.83, 1.49]
3 studies · 484 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Skin toxicity (grades >=3, pooled)
RR 1.25 [0.54, 2.88]
4 studies · 544 participants
GRADE not reported

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Progression‐free survival · People with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx

It is very uncertain whether tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… changes progression-free survival compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months
HR 0.80 [0.51, 1.28]
2 studies · 271 participants
Very low

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Overall survival · People with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx

It is very uncertain whether tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… changes overall survival compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months
HR 0.99 [0.62, 1.57]
2 studies · 271 participants
Very low

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Disease-free survival · People with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx

It is very uncertain whether tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… changes disease-free survival compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months · Gefitinib + radiotherapy (oral cavity)
HR 1.51 [0.61, 3.71]
1 study · 60 participants
Very low

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Locoregional control · People with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx

It is very uncertain whether tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… changes locoregional control compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
40 to 60 months
HR 0.89 [0.53, 1.49]
2 studies · 271 participants
Very low

G‐CSF vs placebo or no treatment

Interruptions to cancer treatment (radiotherapy interruptions) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) showed no clear difference in interruptions to cancer treatment (radiotherapy interruptions) compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
RT to head and neck
RR 0.22 [0.01, 4.31]
1 study · 40 participants
GRADE not reported

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

Interruptions to cancer treatment (unscheduled radiotherapy breaks of 5 or more days) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin),… showed no clear difference in interruptions to cancer treatment (unscheduled radiotherapy breaks… compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil
RR 1.01 [0.65, 1.59]
3 studies · 473 participants
GRADE not reported

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), oral spray vs placebo

Interruptions to cancer treatment (radiotherapy breaks longer than two days) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), oral spray showed no clear difference in interruptions to cancer treatment (radiotherapy breaks longer than… compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Radiotherapy to the head and neck
RR 4.38 [0.25, 75.44]
1 study · 113 participants
GRADE not reported

Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva

Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Bethanechol showed no clear difference in xerostomia (dry mouth, yes/no) compared with artificial saliva; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
8 to 40 weeks postRT
RR 0.56 [0.30, 1.05]
1 study · 30 participants
GRADE not reported
Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of RT
RR 0.63 [0.30, 1.29]
1 study · 36 participants
GRADE not reported

Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse

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

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
No data on salivary flow rates were reported.
0 studies
No studies found

Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva

Salivary flow rate (unstimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Bethanechol led to higher salivary flow rate (unstimulated, ml/min) compared with artificial saliva; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of RT
MD 0.12 [0.01, 0.23]
1 study · 36 participants
GRADE not reported
Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
8 to 40 weeks postRT
MD 0.07 [-0.02, 0.16]
1 study · 33 participants
GRADE not reported

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

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

Palifermin showed no clear difference in progression-free survival compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

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 1.06 [0.80, 1.42]
3 studies
GRADE not reported

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

Amifostine vs no treatment/placebo

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

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of RT; up to 3 months postRT
RR 0.50 [0.17, 1.48]
2 studies · 73 participants
GRADE not reported

Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse

Side effects · 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

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
No data on adverse events were reported.
0 studies
No studies found

Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse

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
Tumour response by RECIST criteria reported for a specific group of patients only; no usable survival data (Watanabe 2010)
1 study
GRADE not reported

Chinese medicine vs no treatment/placebo

Salivary flow rate (stimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Chinese medicine led to higher salivary flow rate (stimulated) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of RT
MD 0.09 [0.03, 0.15]
1 study · 50 participants
GRADE not reported

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

Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Palifermin showed no clear difference in xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) compared with placebo (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 3 months postRT
RR 0.97 [0.77, 1.22]
3 studies · 471 participants
Low

Antiseptic mouthrinse vs placebo

Drooling (hyposialosis) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Antiseptic mouthrinse showed no clear difference in drooling (hyposialosis) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
4 weeks from baseline
RR 1.43 [0.46, 4.39]
1 study · 24 participants
GRADE not reported

Pilocarpine vs no treatment/placebo

Quality of life (McMaster HNRQ, 1-7 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes quality of life (McMaster HNRQ, 1-7 scale) 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
MD 0.20 [-0.19, 0.59]
1 study · 90 participants
Very low