Oral Complications of Systemic Therapies: A Narrative Review of Interdisciplinary Prevention and Management
Abstract
Background: Systemic cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapies, frequently induce oral complications that significantly impair patients' quality of life, nutritional status, and treatment adherence. These complications range from oral mucositis and xerostomia to immune-related oral adverse events, requiring coordinated interdisciplinary management. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the prevention, assessment, and management of oral complications associated with systemic cancer therapies, with emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration among oncology nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and laboratory professionals. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024, focusing on oral complications, assessment tools, preventive strategies, and interprofessional interventions. Results: Evidence demonstrates that professional oral health care and patient education programs significantly reduce oral mucositis incidence and severity. Dental pre-treatment optimization, particularly allowing ≥2 weeks healing time for extractions, reduces osteoradionecrosis risk. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with distinct oral toxicities, including xerostomia (5% prevalence), mucositis (3%), and dysgeusia (3%). Laboratory biomarkers, including single-nucleotide polymorphisms in XRCC1 and inflammatory cytokines, show promise for predicting mucositis risk. Pharmacist-led medication management and nursing assessment tools are essential for early detection and intervention. Conclusion: Effective management of oral complications requires integrated interdisciplinary approaches, standardized assessment protocols, and personalized preventive strategies. Future research should focus on validating predictive biomarkers and optimizing interprofessional care models.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2024 Ghada Rashed Alotay, Mohammed Saleh Hummadi, Mousa Yahya Ahmad Hamdi, Fatimah Mufadhi Al-Anazi, Fatimah Mahboob Mohammad Manjahi, Ohoud Abdulkarim Alsahli, Khulud Abdulaziz Abdulaal, Mohammed Farhan Mohya Alhaysony, Turki Abdulaziz Mishaal Alalawi
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