The effectiveness of strategies for preventing and treating chemotherapy and radiation induced oral mucositis in patients with cancer

<p align="justify"><font face="Arial">Oral mucositis is a common, debilitating complication of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy, occurring in about 40% of patients (1). It results from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation on the oral mucosa. Mucositis causes severe pain and distress, and may limit the tolerability of chemo / radiotherapy, and hence its effectiveness. </font></p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;</p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial">Furthermore, patients with damaged oral mucosa and reduced immunity resulting from chemotherapy and radiotherapy are prone to opportunistic infections in the mouth. The mucositis may be so severe that patients&rsquo; food and fluid intake, gum and dental condition, speech and self esteem are reduced, further compromising patients&rsquo; response to treatment and/or palliative care. It is therefore extremely important that mucositis be prevented whenever possible, or at least treated to reduce its severity and sequelae. </font></p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;</p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial">Currently there is a bewildering number of interventions to choose from, but no high quality synthesis of the research evidence for these interventions. Consequently this systematic review of the literature on treatment and prevention strategies for chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced oral mucositis has been conducted.</font></p>