Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation

Objectives: Patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer experience hyposalivation, a condition that results in loss of oral health and significantly decreases the quality of life of millions of patients worldwide. Treatments include saliva substitutes and secretory agonists th...

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Main Authors: Olga J. Baker, DDS, PhD, Harim Tavares dos Santos, DDS, PhD, Kihoon Nam, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:JADA Foundational Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772414X25000039
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author Olga J. Baker, DDS, PhD
Harim Tavares dos Santos, DDS, PhD
Kihoon Nam, PhD
author_facet Olga J. Baker, DDS, PhD
Harim Tavares dos Santos, DDS, PhD
Kihoon Nam, PhD
author_sort Olga J. Baker, DDS, PhD
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer experience hyposalivation, a condition that results in loss of oral health and significantly decreases the quality of life of millions of patients worldwide. Treatments include saliva substitutes and secretory agonists that provide only temporary relief and can result in significant adverse effects. To find more permanent and clinically viable solutions, alternative strategies are being developed that may restore salivary gland function in patients with head and neck cancer. This review provides an overview and basic interpretation of research for the treatment of RT-induced hyposalivation. Search Strategy: The authors critique and synthesize a broad group of approaches that promote secretory function in an irradiated salivary gland. Citation Sources: Three databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar) were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published from January 2000 through July 2024. Study Selection Criteria: The authors selected research constituting a continuum from the most to least studied approaches to treating RT-induced hyposalivation with the goal of facilitating future work in the field. Data Elements Included: The RT-induced hyposalivation treatments were categorized into post- and pre-RT headings, with approaches further distinguished according to their therapeutic goal, modality, and research stage, as well as with regard to their general pros and cons. Overall Conclusion: A summary of the research approaches used to treat RT-induced hyposalivation has been created to encourage the development of improved treatments.
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spelling doaj-art-d2e4d1bdcb48417c9628788e08701da22025-08-20T02:17:29ZengElsevierJADA Foundational Science2772-414X2025-01-01410004610.1016/j.jfscie.2025.100046Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivationOlga J. Baker, DDS, PhD0Harim Tavares dos Santos, DDS, PhD1Kihoon Nam, PhD2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Address correspondence to Dr Baker.Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo NYDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MOObjectives: Patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer experience hyposalivation, a condition that results in loss of oral health and significantly decreases the quality of life of millions of patients worldwide. Treatments include saliva substitutes and secretory agonists that provide only temporary relief and can result in significant adverse effects. To find more permanent and clinically viable solutions, alternative strategies are being developed that may restore salivary gland function in patients with head and neck cancer. This review provides an overview and basic interpretation of research for the treatment of RT-induced hyposalivation. Search Strategy: The authors critique and synthesize a broad group of approaches that promote secretory function in an irradiated salivary gland. Citation Sources: Three databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar) were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published from January 2000 through July 2024. Study Selection Criteria: The authors selected research constituting a continuum from the most to least studied approaches to treating RT-induced hyposalivation with the goal of facilitating future work in the field. Data Elements Included: The RT-induced hyposalivation treatments were categorized into post- and pre-RT headings, with approaches further distinguished according to their therapeutic goal, modality, and research stage, as well as with regard to their general pros and cons. Overall Conclusion: A summary of the research approaches used to treat RT-induced hyposalivation has been created to encourage the development of improved treatments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772414X25000039Salivary glandsfibrosisradiationxerostomiacancer
spellingShingle Olga J. Baker, DDS, PhD
Harim Tavares dos Santos, DDS, PhD
Kihoon Nam, PhD
Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation
JADA Foundational Science
Salivary glands
fibrosis
radiation
xerostomia
cancer
title Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation
title_full Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation
title_fullStr Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation
title_full_unstemmed Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation
title_short Current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy–induced hyposalivation
title_sort current basic and preclinical research for treatment of radiation therapy induced hyposalivation
topic Salivary glands
fibrosis
radiation
xerostomia
cancer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772414X25000039
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AT kihoonnamphd currentbasicandpreclinicalresearchfortreatmentofradiationtherapyinducedhyposalivation