title: Xerostomia and hypofunction of the salivary glands in cancer therapy.
abstract: This review presents data from the literature on oral adverse reactions from the perspectives of subjective feelings of dry mouth (xerostomia) and objective measures of salivary gland hypofunction during and after cancer therapy. Special emphasis is paid to the mechanisms behind xerostomia, impaired saliva secretion and changes in the composition of saliva and to how these relate to radiation therapy involving the salivary glands and to systemic chemotherapy. The oral complications that relate to such iatrogenic changes in salivary gland function are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Allé 20, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Siri Beier
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reibel
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nauntofte
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013995:Time; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004573:Electrolytes; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides