The therapeutic effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy: a double-blind placebo-controlled prospective phase II multi-institutional study

Clarkson

Bryan

et al. 2010

BackgroundTreatment of cancer is increasingly more effective but is associated with short and long term side effects. Oral side effects remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to prevent them. One of these side effects is oral mucositis (mouth ulcers). ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic agents for oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment, compared with other potentially active interventions, placebo or no treatment.

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Clarkson

Bryan

et al. 2010

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Clarkson

Bryan

et al. 2011

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Background Treatment of cancer is increasingly more effective but is associated with short and long term side effects. Oral side effects remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to prevent them. One of these side effects is oral mucositis (mouth ulcers). Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic agents for oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment, compared with other potentially active interventions, placebo or no treatment.

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors

Riley

Glenny

et al. 2017

We are confident that KGF is beneficial in the prevention of oral mucositis in adults who are receiving: a) radiotherapy to the head and neck with cisplatin or fluorouracil; or b) chemotherapy alone for mixed solid and haematological cancers. We are less confident about a benefit for KGF in adults receiving bone marrow/stem cell transplant after conditioning therapy for haematological cancers because of multiple factors involved in that population, such as whether or not they received total body irradiation (TBI) and whether the transplant was autologous (the patients' own cells) or allogeneic (cells from a donor). KGF appears to be a relatively safe intervention.Due to limited research, we are not confident that there are any beneficial effects of other cytokines and growth factors. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions about the use of cytokines and growth factors in children.