What do systematic reviews say?

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), higher dose/regimen vs Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), different (lower) dose/regimen

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Some inconsistent evidence from which no conclusions can be drawn regarding different dosages of KGF (Analyses 2.1 to 2.8); no pooled estimate reported
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Higher total dose radiotherapy (76.8 Gy over 6.4 weeks) vs conventional dose RT

Higher total dose radiotherapy (76.8 Gy over 6.4 weeks) showed no clear difference in total mortality compared with conventional/standard total dose radiotherapy (72 Gy); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 1.08 [0.69, 1.70]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Higher total dose radiotherapy (76.8 Gy over 6.4 weeks) vs conventional dose RT

Higher total dose radiotherapy (76.8 Gy over 6.4 weeks) showed no clear difference in locoregional control compared with conventional/standard total dose radiotherapy (72 Gy); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 0.78 [0.55, 1.11]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), higher dose (1260 to 12,600 micrograms) vs Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), lower dose (12.6 to 126 micrograms)

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), higher… led to higher oral mucositis (severe) compared with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), lower…; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 2.75 [1.07, 7.04]
  1 study · 36 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs High-dose leucovorin rinse

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Oral mucositis (severe). Not estimable - no participants had developed severe oral mucositis by the fourth day after chemotherapy when the data were reported (Zhang 2011, Analysis 4.3, subgroup 3.2); 81 participants in…
  1 study · 81 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs High-dose leucovorin rinse

It is very uncertain whether oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed… changes oral mucositis (any severity) compared with high-dose leucovorin rinse (very low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.65 [0.47, 0.90]
  1 study · 81 participants
  Very low

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs High-dose leucovorin rinse

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Oral mucositis (moderate to severe). Not estimable - no participants had developed moderate or severe oral mucositis by the fourth day after chemotherapy when the data were reported (Zhang 2011, Analysis 4.2, subgroup…
  1 study · 81 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

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Low-dose leucovorin rinse

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Oral mucositis (severe). Not estimable - no participants had developed severe oral mucositis by the fourth day after chemotherapy when the data were reported (Zhang 2011, Analysis 4.3, subgroup 3.1); 118 participants…
  1 study · 118 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Low-dose leucovorin rinse

It is very uncertain whether oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed… changes oral mucositis (any severity) compared with low-dose leucovorin rinse (very low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.67 [0.50, 0.90]
  1 study · 118 participants
  Very low

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Low-dose leucovorin rinse

It is very uncertain whether oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed… changes oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with low-dose leucovorin rinse (very low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.18 [0.01, 3.42]
  1 study · 118 participants
  Very low

Toluidine blue (visual staining) vs No screening

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Brush biopsy (oral cytology) vs No screening

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Fluorescence imaging / light-based techniques vs No screening

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Low dose rate interstitial radiotherapy vs High dose rate interstitial radiotherapy

Low dose rate interstitial radiotherapy showed no clear difference in locoregional control compared with high dose rate interstitial radiotherapy; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 1.00 [0.16, 6.44]
  1 study · 59 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) vs Prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose)

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) showed no clear difference in presence/absence of HSV oral lesions compared with prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.23 [0.05, 1.03]
  2 studies · 181 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) vs Prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose)

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Orlowski 2004: 182 throat swabs performed for patients receiving 500 mg of valaciclovir (n = 40) and 198 swabs for those receiving 1000 mg (n = 41); all of the cultures proved negative (1 trial, 81; not estimable).
  1 study · 81 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) vs Prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose)

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One study reported adverse effects (Warkentin 2002). Twenty patients allocated to receive high dose valaciclovir reported adverse effects (42%); for the low dose group this number was 27 (52%). Adverse effects were…
  1 study · 100 participants
  GRADE not reported