What do systematic reviews say?

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

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

Lower total dose radiotherapy (67.2 Gy over 5.6 weeks) vs conventional dose RT

Lower total dose radiotherapy (67.2 Gy over 5.6 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 1.13 [0.78, 1.64]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Lower total dose radiotherapy (67.2 Gy over 5.6 weeks) vs conventional dose RT

Lower total dose radiotherapy (67.2 Gy over 5.6 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 1.38 [0.83, 2.29]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

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

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

Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for days 1 and 2 vs Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for day 1 and placebo for day 2 (lower dose)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  16 weeks
  Two patients in each group reported unwanted effects.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for days 1 and 2 vs Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for day 1 and placebo for day 2 (lower dose)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  16 weeks
  A trial at high risk of bias (Zissis 1983) compared two different dose regimens of levamisole (treatment 2 days per week for 16 weeks; a third group received placebo). There was inconsistency in the presentation of the…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported