Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Author (year) | Type of cancer | Chemotherapy regimen | Intervention (n) | Study size (n) | Mean age (years) | Male (%) |
ECOG performance status |
| Ala et al (2016)34 | Solid cancer | 5-FU-based regimens | Sucralfate (26) Placebo (26) |
52 | 56.8 | 68.5 | NA |
| Baydar et al (2005)35 | Solid cancer | 5-FU-based regimens | Cryotherapy (45) Control (54) |
99 | 54.2 | NA | NA |
| Blijilevens et al (2013)36 | Haematological cancer | HDM regimens | Palifermin (115) Placebo (57) |
172 | 56.1 | 56.5 | 0 (45.0%) 1 (43.3%) |
| Bradstock et al (2014)37 | Haematological cancer | ICE regimens | Palifermin (79) Placebo (81) |
160 | 45.0 | 64.0 | 0 (52%) 1 (43%) |
| Cartee et al (1995)38 | Solid cancer | AFM regimens | GM-CSF (36) 0.1% albumin (9) |
45 | 43.5 | NA | NA |
| Cascinu et al (1994)39 | Solid cancer | 5-FU-based regimens | Cryotherapy (44) Control (40) |
84 | 57.9 | 69.1 | 0 (50%) 1 (33.3%) 2 (16.7%) |
| Choi et al (2007)40 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Glutamine (22) Supportive care (29) |
51 | 52.5 | 64.6 | 0 (29.7%) 1 (70.3%) |
| Dazzi et al (2003)41 | Solid cancer | Thiotepa and melphalan, Mitoxantrone, thiotepa and cyclophosphamide, Busulfan and melplalan |
GM-CSF (46) Placebo (44) |
90 | 33.3 | 56.6 | NA |
| Dodd et al (1996)42 | Solid cancer | Doxorubicin, bleomycin, etoposide, 5-FU, MTX, paclitaxel or fludarabine | Chlorhexidine (112) Placebo (110) | 222 | 56.7 | 32.5 | NA |
| Duenas-Gonzalez et al
(1996)43 |
Mixed cancer | ICE regimens | Misoprostol (9) Placebo (7) |
16 | 39.3 | 36.5 | NA |
| Ferretti et al (1990)44 | Mixed cancer | High-dose chemotherapy | Chlorhexidine (19) Placebo (21) | 40 | 32.0 | NA | NA |
| Hartmann et al (2001)8 | Solid cancer | VIC regimens | Amifostine (20) Control (20) |
40 | 45.8 | 10.0 | 0–1 (100%) |
| Heydari et al (2012)60 | Solid cancer | 5-FU-based regimens | Cryotherapy (40) No intervention (40) |
80 | 61.4 | NA | NA |
| Karagozoglu (2005)45 | Solid cancer | Etoposide and cisplatin regimens | Cryotherapy (30) Control (30) |
60 | NA | NA | NA |
| Katranci et al (2012)46 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Cryotherapy (30) Control (30) |
60 | NA | 50.0 | NA |
| Lilleby et al (2006)47 | Haematological cancer | HDM regimens | Cryotherapy (21) Normal saline (19) |
40 | 57.4 | 69.7 | NA |
| Mahood et al (1991)48 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Cryotherapy (50) Control (45) |
95 | NA | NA | NA |
| Mansouri et al (2012)49 | Haematological cancer | Busulfan-based regimens | Zinc sulphate (30) Placebo (30) |
60 | 29.0 | 66.7 | NA |
| McGaw (1985)50 | Haematological cancer | Cytarabine, doxorubicin and amsacrine | Chlorhexidine (8) Control (8) | 16 | NA | NA | NA |
| Meropol et al (2003)51 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | KGF (54) Placebo (27) |
81 | 63.8 | 58.4 | 0–2 (100%) |
| Nottage et al (2003)52 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Sucralfate (41) Placebo (40) |
81 | 60.8 | 55.0 | 0 (63.9 %) 1 (31.3%) |
| Okuno et al (1999)53 | Solid cancer | 5-FU-based regimens | Glutamine (66) Placebo (68) |
134 | 62.7 | 53.8 | NA |
| Papadeas et al (2007)54 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Cryotherapy (36) Placebo (40) |
76 | 62.4 | 34.2 | NA |
| Pitten et al (2003)55 | Mixed cancer | NA | Chlorhexidine (24) Placebo (23) |
47 | 51.5 | 63.8 | NA |
| Rosen et al (2006)56 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Palifermin (36) Placebo (28) |
64 | 65.0 | 64.7 | 0 (46%) 1 (44%) 2 (8.5%) Other (2.5%) |
| Sorensen et al (2008)57 | Solid cancer | 5-FU/leucovorin regimens | Chlorhexidine (75) Placebo (75) Cryotherapy (75) |
225 | 59.3 | 55.4 | NA |
| Spencer et al (2005)9 | Haematological cancer | HDM regimens | Amifostine (43) Control (47) |
90 | 51.8 | 67.2 | 2 (100%) |
| Tanaka et al (2016)58 | Solid cancer | DCF regimens | Glutamine (10) Control (10) |
20 | 70.0 | 80.0 | NA |
| Vadhan-Raj et al (2010)59 | Solid cancer | Doxorubicin-based regimens | Palifermin (32) Placebo (16) |
48 | 40.13 | 51.6 | NA |
AFM regimens, Adriamycin (doxorubicin) +5-FU+MTX; CALGB criteria, Cancer and Leukaemia Group B; CTCAE v3.0, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0; DCF regimens, Docetaxel+cisplatin+5 FU; DGS regimens; Docetaxel+nedaplatin+ S-1; HDM regimens, High-dose melphalan; ICE regimens, Idarubicin +cytarbine+ etoposide or Ifosfamide +carboplastin+ etoposide; NA, not available; NCI-CTC, National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria; VIC regimens, High-dose etoposide +ifosfamide+ carboplastin; WHO, World Health Organization grading system.