Nicolatou-Galitis, O., Sarri, T., Bowen, J., Di Palma, M., Kouloulias, V.E., Niscola, P., . . . Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). (2013). Systematic review of amifostine for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 21(1), 357–364.
STUDY PURPOSE: To review available literature from 1966 to December 31, 2010 to define clinical practice guidelines for the use of amifostine for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in patients with cancer
TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review
DATABASES USED: MEDLINE
KEYWORDS: Extensive list provided (anti-inflammatory agents) including amifostine, antitumor necrosis factor (TNF), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, TNF inhibitor, etc.
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Detailed information is provided in a different section of the journal. Studies relevant to the management of radiation and/or chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis using anti-inflammatory interventions including amifostine
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Articles that did not report on intervention and mucositis outcomes, animal or in vitro studies, non-English articles, methodologic quality, and anti-inflammatory agents other than amifostine
TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 908
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Only articles that investigated amifostine specifically were selected. Levels of evidence were based on the Somerfield criteria, and study methodology was evaluated on the Hadorn criteria. These were integrated into guideline categories—recommendation, suggestion, or no guideline possible.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
No guideline, suggestion, or recommendation for mucositis prevention with amifostine was possible in any of the following groupings.
Conflicting results, insufficient data, and major Hadorn flaws did not allow any guideline related to the use of amifostine for oral mucositis prevention. New well-designed trials are necessary that include timing of amifostine infusion prior to radiotherapy, consistent dose of amifostine, and cancer therapy intensity and modality.
Too many studies may have been eliminated up front.
Because no guidelines are recommended by this review, nurses who continue to administer amifostine for mucositis prevention carefully should document the results and look for ways to participate in well-designed trials. Nurses may consider advocating against the use of amifostine outside of research until guidelines can be established for its use.