The Influence of Chemotherapy on the Oral Cavity Condition in Oncological Patients - a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.85.66879Keywords
chemotherapy, oral manifestations, oral cavity mucosa, oncology, side effects, oral complicationsAbstract
Introduction and Purpose:
Chemotherapy remains one of the primary and fundamental methods of cancer treatment. It affects not only malignant cells but also the healthy tissues of the body. The side effects of oncological therapy within the oral cavity are a common and significant clinical issue, often compromising patients’ quality of life and, in some cases, hindering the continuation of treatment.
The aim of this article is to review the most recent scientific literature from the past five years regarding chemotherapy- related oral symptoms in oncology patients, and to highlight the complexity of their clinical management, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists across various fields.
Description of the State of Knowledge:
Chemotherapy can induce numerous oral complications, including mucositis, ulcerations, oral pain, xerostomia, and trismus. In severe cases, some of these complications may necessitate discontinuation of cancer therapy. Xerostomia and oral microbiome alterations increase the risk of dental caries, candidiasis, and other infections. These symptoms can significantly affect the overall condition and well-being of oncology patients.
Conclusions:
Given the frequency ans severity of oral complications, awareness, early recognition, and appropriate preventive and therapeutic interventions are essential. Disseminating knowledge on this subject among healthcare professionals of all specialties is crucial to ensuring comprehensive, interdisciplinary care for oncology patients.
References
References
Miyashita, Y., Kawazoe, A., & Yoshino, T. (2024). Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy, 51(3), 245–249.
Wu, Y., Shi, W., Li, C., Liu, X., Jiang, Y., Qiu, Y., Chen, Q., & Luo, X. (2025). Managing strategies of chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Cancer treatment reviews, 133, 102883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2025.102883
Kawada, J., Mizuno, M., Fukada, A., Nakano, M., Murotani, M., Nagano, S., ... & Sasaki, Y. (2022). Analysis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy for gastric cancer. Gan to Kagaku ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy, 49(4), 462-464.
Frowen, J., Hughes, R., & Skeat, J. (2020). The prevalence of patient-reported dysphagia and oral complications in cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28(3), 1141-1150.
Parra-Rojas, S., Velázquez-Cayón, R. T., Borges-Gil, A., Mejías-Torrus, J. L., & Cassol-Spanemberg, J. (2024). Oral complications and management strategies for cancer patients: principles of supportive oncology in dentistry. Current Oncology Reports, 26(4), 391-399.
Śledzińska, A., Śledzińska, P., Bebyn, M., & Komisarek, O. (2023). Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Complications and Prophylaxis Strategies. Cancer Investigation, 41(5), 432–455. https://doi.org/10.1080/07357907.2023.2188558
Pai, R. R., Ongole, R., & Banerjee, S. (2025). Retrospective evaluation of oral complications following radiotherapy and chemoradiation in patients with head and neck Cancer. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 24726.
Palmieri, M., Sarmento, D. J. S., Falcão, A. P., Martins, V. A. O., Brandão, T. B., Morais-Faria, K., Ribeiro, A. C. P., Hasséus, B., Giglio, D., & Braz-Silva, P. H. (2021). Frequency and Evolution of Acute Oral Complications in Patients Undergoing Radiochemotherapy Treatment for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Ear, nose, & throat journal, 100(5_suppl), 449S–455S. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145561319879245
Singh, V., & Singh, A. K. (2020). Oral mucositis. National journal of maxillofacial surgery, 11(2), 159-168.
Elad, S., Yarom, N., Zadik, Y., Kuten-Shorrer, M., & Sonis, S. T. (2022). The broadening scope of oral mucositis and oral ulcerative mucosal toxicities of anticancer therapies. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 72(1), 57–77. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21704
Shetty, S. S., Maruthi, M., Dhara, V., de Arruda, J. A. A., Abreu, L. G., Mesquita, R. A., Teixeira, A. L., Silva, T. A., & Merchant, Y. (2022). Oral mucositis: Current knowledge and future directions. Disease-a-month : DM, 68(5), 101300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2021.101300
Otakhoigbogie, U., Onyia, N. E., & Uzodufa, S. A. (2024). Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis: The Potentials of Metabolomics in the Management. West African journal of medicine, 41(12), 1205–1213.
Al-Rudayni, A. H. M., Gopinath, D., Maharajan, M. K., Veettil, S. K., & Menon, R. K. (2021). Efficacy of Oral Cryotherapy in the Prevention of Oral Mucositis Associated with Cancer Chemotherapy: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis. Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 28(4), 2852–2867. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol28040250
Hong, W. W., Kim, I. H., Hong, B. M., Oak, S., & Mupparapu, M. (2023). A Patient Presenting for Dental Extraction After Completion of Chemotherapy. Dental clinics of North America, 67(4), 667–670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2023.05.020
Villa, A., & Lodolo, M. (2025). Oral complications from head and neck cancer therapy. In Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation (pp. 99-114). Elsevier.
Gómez-Espinosa, E., & Marroquín-Velásquez, G. (2025). Prevalence and burden of oral complications in breast cancer: systematic literature review. Gaceta mexicana de oncología, 24(1), 34-47.
Dipalma, G., Inchingolo, A. M., Latini, G., Ferrante, L., Nardelli, P., Malcangi, G., ... & Inchingolo, A. D. (2024). The effectiveness of curcumin in treating oral mucositis related to radiation and chemotherapy: A systematic review. Antioxidants, 13(10), 1160.
Filon, A., Vozny, O., & Kolesnik, O. (2020). Modern treatment of oral mucositis as a complication of chemotherapeutic treatment of patients with breast cancer. Clinical case. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 10(11), 337–345. https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2020.10.11.034
Wang, Y., Zeng, X., Yang, X., Que, J., Du, Q., Zhang, Q., & Zou, J. (2021). Oral Health, Caries Risk Profiles, and Oral Microbiome of Pediatric Patients with Leukemia Submitted to Chemotherapy. BioMed research international, 2021, 6637503. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6637503
Buiret, G., Brignot, H., Septier, C., Thomas-Danguin, T., & Feron, G. (2024). The nutritional impact of metallic taste in head and neck cancer patients: explorations and clinical implications. Supportive Care in Cancer, 32(10), 651.
Fons, A., Oreskovich, D., Prioult, G., von der Weid, B., & Lerea-Antes, J. (2025). Taste alterations in patients with cancer: an overview and recommendations for future research. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(9), 1-11.
Buiret, G., Brignot, H., Septier, C., Feron, G., & Thomas-Danguin, T. (2025). Evaluating the etiology of metallic taste during head and neck cancer treatments: a study of facial and glossopharyngeal nerve interactions. Neuroscience.
Kurt, B., & Öksüzoğlu, B. Ö. Ç. (2025). Factors Influencing Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Alterations in Cancer Patients Receiving Cisplatin Treatment: A Path Analysis. Cancer Control, 32, 10732748251363323.
Ambati, P., Galhotra, V., Jondhale, S. N., Dolker, T., Ravi, M., & Rathod, P. (2024). Evaluation of oral complications in children undergoing chemotherapy: An observational study. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 42(3), 184-189.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kinga Popielarska, Klaudia Martyna Patrzykąt, Zofia Gorzoch-Burduk, Izabela Brynczka, Julia Puzio, Paula Marcinkowska, Marta Krzyżaniak, Michal Jezierski, Ewelina Nowicka, Kamila Wróblewska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The periodical offers access to content in the Open Access system under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 34
Number of citations: 0
