Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42397548›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Diagnosis and management of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction in oncology patients: a systematic review.

Rosa María López-Pintor, José González-Serrano, Alessandro Villa, Gennaro Musella, Alan Roger Santos-Silva, Jesús Rodríguez-Molinero

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rosa María López-PintorORALMED Research Group, Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
José González-SerranoORALMED Research Group, Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N, 28040, Madrid, Spain. josego09@ucm.es.
Alessandro VillaOral Medicine, Oral Oncology and Dentistry, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA.
Gennaro MusellaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Via Rovelli 50, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
Alan Roger Santos-SilvaOral Diagnosis Department, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Jesús Rodríguez-MolineroDepartment of Nursing and Stomatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo summarize diagnostic approaches and management strategies for dry mouth associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer patients.

methodsWe conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD420251267861). PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from 2011 to 8 September 2025. We included original human studies reporting xerostomia, hyposalivation, or sicca syndrome attributed to ICIs. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists for case reports and case series, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies.

resultsThirty-one studies published between 2016 and 2025 were included (17 case reports, 7 case series, and 7 observational studies), comprising 1,864 ICI-treated patients and 152 reported cases of xerostomia. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab were the most frequently implicated ICIs. Onset ranged from 5 days to 22 months after ICI initiation. Diagnostic evaluation was heterogeneous, variably using salivary gland imaging and objective salivary flow. Sjögren-related autoantibodies were usually absent. Management most commonly comprised systemic corticosteroids, sialagogues, topical saliva substitutes/stimulants, and temporary or permanent ICI discontinuation. Risk of bias was overall moderate, with few high-risk studies.

conclusionThe available evidence is largely based on case reports and case series and is heterogeneous, which limits its certainty. This review offers protocols for the correct diagnosis and treatment of ICI-related dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids appears to be effective, in many cases avoiding the need to interrupt treatment. Future standardized criteria and prospective studies are needed to improve the available evidence.

Indexed as

Immune Checkpoint InhibitorsSalivary Gland DiseasesXerostomiaHumansNeoplasmsSjogren's SyndromeImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsCheckpoint inhibitorsHyposalivationImmunotherapyOncology patientSicca syndromeXerostomia

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.