Table 2.

Cytokine evaluation and outcomes of the studies.

Author	OM Evaluation Method	Type of Cytokine	Time of Saliva Collection	Outcome
Silva et al., 2015 [19]	World Health Organization [WHO] mucositis scale	“TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β concentrations were assessed using ELISA test.”	“Samples were collected from patients on admission [AD], D-1, D+3, D+7, and on marrow engraftment day [ME].”	The OM lesions were clinically less severe in the PMB group [p < 0.05]. However, neither blood nor salivary inflammatory mediators demonstrated any statistically significant differences.
Oton-Leite et al., 2015 [20]	World Health Organization [WHO] and National Cancer Institute [NCI] scales	“TNF-a, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β concentrations were assessed using the ELISA test.”	“Saliva samples were collected on admission, and on the 7th, 21st and 35th sessions of radiotherapy.”	Although no statistical significance can be drawn from the TGF-β, IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-a concentrations between the PMB and control groups, a reduction trend was observed. The PMB group experienced a significant reduction in IL-6 concentration, especially following the 35th session.
Salvador et al., 2017 [21]	World Health Organization [WHO] mucositis scale	“CXCL8/interleukin 8, using cytometric bead array analysis.”	“Saliva samples were collected at the time of admission [AD], on the 7th day after transplantation [D+7], and on the day of discharge [with neutrophil > 0.5 × 109/L for two consecutive days] [HD].”	The CXCL8 chemokine in the PBM group was reduced by 85% at the 7th session, whereas there was an up to 70.8% increase in CXCL8 observed in the control group [p = 0.007]. From the 7th to the 11th sessions, MO severity was significantly reduced by PBM [p < 0.05].
Martins et al., 2021 [22]	World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute scales	“IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured using the cytometric bead array.”	“Samples were collected in the 1st [baseline], 7th, 14th, 21st and 30th sessions of RT.”	PBM increased the concentration of IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-12p70. However, OM severity was noticeably reduced in the PBM group compared with the control group.