MASCC/ISOO expert opinion on the management of oral problems in patients with advanced cancer

Purpose The Palliative Care Study Group in conjunction with the Oral Care Study Group of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) formed a sub-group to develop evidence-based guidance on the management of common oral problems in patients with advanced cancer. Methods This guidance was developed in accordance with the MASCC Guidelines Policy. A search strategy for Medline was developed, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were explored for relevant reviews and trials, respectively. Guidance was categorised by the level of evidence, and "category of guideline" (i.e., "recommendation", "suggestion" or "no guideline possible"). Results Twelve generic suggestions (level of evidence -5), three problem-specific recommendations and 14 problem-specific suggestions were generated. The generic suggestions relate to oral hygiene measures, assessment of problems, principles of management, re-assessment of problems and the role of dental/oral medicine professionals. Conclusions This guidance provides a framework for the management of common oral problems in patients with advanced cancer, although every patient requires individualised management.Supportive Care in Cancer (2022) 30:8761-8773Publisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

# Introduction
Oral symptoms/conditions ("oral problems") are common in patients with advanced cancer and are the cause of significant morbidity in this group of patients . Hence, it is essential that healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with advanced cancer have a good understanding about the principles of oral hygiene/care and knowledge of the evidence-based management of common oral problems.
Observational studies suggest that oral problems are not well-managed in patients with advanced cancer [bib_ref] End-of-life palliative oral care in Norwegian health institutions, Kvalheim [/bib_ref]. The reasons for the latter are multiple and include inadequate assessment, lack of diagnosis, inappropriate treatment and inadequate re-assessment. Indeed, oral problems are often not assessed by healthcare professionals and importantly often not reported by patients and carers (and represent so-called orphan problems) [bib_ref] Symptom prevalence in palliative care, Shorthose [/bib_ref]. Additionally, there are no up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines on the management of oral problems in patients with advanced cancer within the medical and dental literature.
On the basis of the above, the Palliative Care Study Group, in conjunction with the Oral Care Study Group, of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) formed a sub-group ("Group") to develop MASCC/ISOO (International Society of Oral Oncology) evidence-based guidance on the management of common oral problems in patients with advanced cancer. This paper provides an overview of oral problems in patients with advanced cancer, the methodology involved in developing this guidance and the evidence identified in support of the recommendations/suggestions within this guidance.
It should be noted that this guidance purposely does not cover specific cancer treatment-related oral problems, since MASCC/ISOO has already produced a series of evidence-based guidelines on these oral problems (e.g. oral mucositis, salivary gland hypofunction/xerostomia) .

# Background

## Aetiology
Oral problems may be related to either (a) a direct ("anatomical") effect of the cancer, e.g. oral discomfort due to intraoral cancer; (b) an indirect ("physiological") effect of the cancer-see below; (c) an effect of cancer treatment, e.g. salivary gland hypofunction due to head and neck radiotherapy; (d) an effect of a coexisting disease or its treatment or (e) a combination of the above factors .
Advanced cancer is associated with a number of sequelae that can indirectly result in oral problems, including physical problems such as fatigue (resulting in difficulty in undertaking oral hygiene), psychological problems such as depression (resulting in lack of motivation/difficulty in undertaking oral hygiene) and relative immunosuppression (resulting in increased risk of oral infections) .

## Epidemiology
As discussed above, oral symptoms are common in patients with advanced cancer [bib_ref] Symptoms of the oral cavity and their association with local microbiological and..., Alt-Epping [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral health is an important issue in end-of-life cancer care, Wilberg [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral health conditions affect functional and social activities of terminally ill cancer..., Fischer [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a..., Davies [/bib_ref]. [fig_ref] Table 1: Prevalence of oral symptoms in a cohort of patients with advanced cancer... [/fig_ref] shows the results for oral symptoms from a recent study of patients with advanced cancer receiving specialist palliative care in the UK [bib_ref] Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a..., Davies [/bib_ref]. In this study, 97.5% of patients had at least one oral symptom, and the mean number of oral symptoms was five (range 1-18). [fig_ref] Table 2: Prevalence of oral conditions in patients with advanced cancer[9][10][11][12][14][15][16][17][18][19] [/fig_ref] shows the results for other oral conditions from relevant palliative care studies [bib_ref] Symptoms of the oral cavity and their association with local microbiological and..., Alt-Epping [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral health is an important issue in end-of-life cancer care, Wilberg [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral health conditions affect functional and social activities of terminally ill cancer..., Fischer [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Salivary flow and its relation with oral symptoms in terminally ill patients, Chaushu [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Salivary gland hypofunction in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in community-based patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral health in the terminally ill: a cross-sectional pilot survey, Aldred [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Dental need among hospice patients in Colorado: a pilot study, Gordon [/bib_ref]. Certain oral problems appear to become more common as the patient's condition progresses (e.g. xerostomia, oral candidosis) [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Associations between oral complications and days to death in palliative care patients, Matsuo [/bib_ref].

## Clinical features
The mouth is integral to various everyday functions, such as respiration, communication (i.e. verbal, non-verbal), eating and drinking, administration of medication (i.e. oral route, oral transmucosal route) and prevention of infection. Oral problems are a significant direct cause of morbidity in many patients receiving palliative care [bib_ref] Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a..., Davies [/bib_ref]. Moreover, oral problems can lead to a more generalised deterioration in a patient's condition [bib_ref] Physical and psychosocial impact of xerostomia in palliative cancer care: a qualitative..., Rydholm [/bib_ref] and health-related quality of life [bib_ref] Oral health conditions affect functional and social activities of terminally ill cancer..., Fischer [/bib_ref]. Oral problems are also an indirect cause of mortality in some patients receiving palliative care (e.g. oral colonisation/infection leading to respiratory and systemic infections) [bib_ref] Oral infections: impact on human health, well-being, and health-care costs, Mandel [/bib_ref]. Oral problems often co-exist [bib_ref] Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a..., Davies [/bib_ref] , and a sentinel problem can lead to the development of a number of other local and systemic problems (which magnifies the impact of the problem on the patient's health-related quality of life). For example, salivary gland hypofunction (dry mouth) is associated with oral discomfort, lip discomfort, cracking of lips, taste disturbance (dysgeusia), difficulty chewing (dysmasesia), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), decreased intake of nutrition, oesophagitis, difficulty speaking (dysphonia), anorexia, poor oral hygiene, halitosis, oral candidosis, dental caries, salivary gland infections (sialadenitis), dental demineralisation (causing dental sensitivity), denture fitting problems, sleep disturbance, embarrassment, anxiety, depression and social isolation . Importantly, the successful management of the sentinel problem may lead to the resolution of some/all of the other local and systemic problems.
Oral problems also impact relationships with family members and others, with some patients avoiding situations that may highlight the problem (e.g. eating with others), and other patients avoiding social interactions altogether [bib_ref] Physical and psychosocial impact of xerostomia in palliative cancer care: a qualitative..., Rydholm [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] ) Caregivers' perspectives on oral health problems of endof-life cancer patients, Ezenwa [/bib_ref].

# Methods
The aim of the Group was to develop clinically relevant, evidence-based guidance on the management of common oral problems in patients with advanced cancer. Thus, it was agreed that the recommendations could include ones supported by "high" levels of evidence (e.g. systematic reviews), as well as ones supported by "low" levels of evidence (e.g. expert opinion), if the topic was deemed to be clinically relevant and stronger evidence was lacking within the medical and dental literature. This guidance was developed in accordance with the MASCC Guidelines Policy . The Group adopted the National Cancer Institute (NCI) definition of advanced cancer (i.e. "cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment") [24], and data was included from studies involving patients receiving disease-oriented/modifying treatment and especially patients receiving symptom-oriented treatment (i.e. palliative care). Other terms utilised within this review include "end-of-life" (i.e. the last year of life)and "terminal phase" (i.e. the last days to weeks of life).
A search strategy for Medline was developed (Appendix 1), and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Oral Health Group's inventory of systematic reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were explored for relevant systematic reviews/ randomised clinical trials, respectively . The review of the published literature was restricted to papers written in English and to papers relating to adult (> 18 years) humans.
All abstracts identified by the search of Medline were downloaded into a reference management software package (EndNote X9, ClarivateTM). These abstracts were independently assessed for relevance by two authors (JJ, AD), and if one author deemed the abstract relevant, then the full text of the article was obtained. The criteria utilised were (a) relevant population; (b) relevant/common clinical problem and (c) relevant/non-specialist treatment intervention. The full text articles were independently assessed for inclusion by the same two authors (JJ, AD). The criteria utilised were (a) relevance to guidance and (b) quality of contents. Moreover, these two authors (JJ, AD) were involved in assessing the systematic reviews in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews/Cochrane Oral Health Group's inventory of systematic reviews. All of the authors were involved in assessing the randomised controlled trials in CENTRAL.
Generic guidance was often based on standard (evidencebased) dental and oral medicine practice, but specific guidance was invariably restricted to data arising from research studies involving patients with advanced cancer. Guidance was characterised by a level of evidence (i.e. I-V) and a "category of guideline" (i.e. "recommendation", "suggestion" or "no guideline possible") (Appendix 2) . All of the authors agree with the final content of the guidance, including the levels of evidence and the categories of guideline.

# Results
The Medline search (original search-24th August 2020; updated searches-29th March 2021 and 5th January 2022) produced 9802 references, and 197 full text articles were retrieved/reviewed. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials search (search dates same as Medline) produced Relatively uncommon -no data Aphthous stomatitis ("aphthous ulceration")
14% [bib_ref] Symptoms of the oral cavity and their association with local microbiological and..., Alt-Epping [/bib_ref] Non-specific ulceration 12-26% [bib_ref] Oral health conditions affect functional and social activities of terminally ill cancer..., Fischer [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Dental need among hospice patients in Colorado: a pilot study, Gordon [/bib_ref] ] Other dental problems Relatively common -limited data [bib_ref] Dental need among hospice patients in Colorado: a pilot study, Gordon [/bib_ref] Poor denture retention 57-83% [bib_ref] Oral health in the terminally ill: a cross-sectional pilot survey, Aldred [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Dental need among hospice patients in Colorado: a pilot study, Gordon [/bib_ref] Poor denture hygiene 27-55% [bib_ref] Dental need among hospice patients in Colorado: a pilot study, Gordon [/bib_ref] 6241 references, of which 27 were deemed relevant, including 15 unique studies (c.f. Medline). The analogous searches of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (search limited to "cancer") identified one review, which was not identified in the Medline search; the analogous searches of the Cochrane Oral Health Group inventory of systematic reviews (search not limited to cancer) identified 11 potentially relevant reviews, five of which were not identified in the Medline search.
On the basis of the available evidence, the Group generated 12 generic "suggestions", as well as three problem-specific "recommendations" and 14 problem-specific "suggestions" (see below).

## Generic suggestions
The generic suggestions are summarised in Box 1. The problem-specific recommendations/suggestions are included in the main text. Additionally, the Group recommends that pharmacological interventions are used in accordance with their Summary of Product Characteristics, i.e. that prescribers follow the prescribing guidance (e.g. dose, schedule) and take note of relevant contraindications, cautions, interactions and adverse effects.
Box 1 Generic suggestions about oral care in patients with advanced cancer.

## All patients with advanced cancer should be regularly assessed for oral problems (category of guideline -suggestion; level of evidence-v)
As discussed, oral problems are practically universal in patients with advanced cancer, and therefore all such patients should be regularly assessed for such problems.
The objectives of assessment are to determine (a) the presence of oral problems; (b) the impact of these problems; (c) the cause of these problems; (d) factors that may affect the choice of intervention (i.e. patient-related factors, e.g. comorbidities; disease-related factors, e.g. prognosis) and (e) patient preference for interventions. Inadequate assessment may result in initiation of inappropriate or contra-indicated interventions. Assessment primarily involves taking a focussed history and performing a systematic oral examination: in some cases, clinical evaluation may require confirmatory diagnostic investigations (e.g. microbial cultures, dental images). Older generic oral assessment tools are invariably not appropriate/not validated in patients with advanced cancer (e.g. Oral Assessment Guide) [bib_ref] Development, testing, and application of the oral assessment guide, Eilers [/bib_ref]. However, an oral symptom assessment tool has been developed/ validated in this group of patients (Oral Symptom Assessment Scale) [bib_ref] Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a..., Davies [/bib_ref] , and newer generic tools may also have a role in patients with advanced cancer (e.g. EORTC QLQ-OH15) [bib_ref] International field testing of the psychometric properties of an EORTC quality of..., Hjermstad [/bib_ref].
Patients should be questioned about common oral symptoms [fig_ref] Table 1: Prevalence of oral symptoms in a cohort of patients with advanced cancer... [/fig_ref] , since they may not report such symptoms spontaneously (even when they cause distress) [bib_ref] Symptom prevalence in palliative care, Shorthose [/bib_ref]. Importantly, patients should be examined for the presence of oral conditions, even in the absence of oral symptoms. A good direct light source is essential to facilitate adequate visualisation. Gloves must be worn during the examination, and a gloved finger (or a "tongue depressor"/similar implement) used to retract tissues to again facilitate adequate visualisation. Patients with dentures should have these removed during the examination (as they may obscure pathology). Moreover, it is important that denture stability is assessed, and that the denture is examined for any related problems (e.g. poor hygiene, rough edges).
The assessment of oral problems should be responsibility of all healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with advanced cancer (and not delegated, or assumed to be delegated, to specific groups of healthcare professionals). However, patients with complex oral problems and those relating to the dentition, periodontal tissues and dental prostheses should be referred in a timely manner to relevant dental professionals for specialist treatment.

## All patients need a regular oral hygiene regimen, and dependent patients need appropriate support with oral hygiene (category of guidelinesuggestion; level of evidence-v)
Good oral hygiene reduces the risk of developing many oral problems in patients with advanced cancer (e.g. halitosis, oral infections). The principles of good oral hygiene are outlined in Box 2. Care must be taken when assisting patients with their oral hygiene, and gloves and a face mask may be indicated when undertaking oral care (infection control measure). The principles of denture care are outlined in Box 3. Patients with significant oral hygiene problems, particularly those with "complex" dental restorations, or significant dental/oral conditions, should be referred to relevant dental professionals for specialist treatment.
Box 2 Daily oral hygiene measuresCleaning of the teeth should be done twice daily using a small headed, soft texture, nylon filament toothbrush and a fluoridated toothpaste. Toothpaste should contain at least 1000 ppm fluoride, but patients with salivary gland hypofunction (especially patients with radiation-induced salivary gland hypofunction) require a toothpaste with 5000 ppm fluoride as well as additional fluoride supplements (e.g., rinses, gels) Alternative toothbrushes/adapted toothbrushes may be needed in some patients (e.g., patients with oral discomfort, patients with disabilities) Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3 months, or when the filaments become misshapen, or when there has been an oral infection Alternative toothpastes/water alone may be needed in some patients (e.g., patients with oral discomfort, patients with dysphagia). A variety of toothpastes are available, including non-foaming ("SLS-free") options, mint-free options and toothpastes for "sensitive teeth" Chemical plaque control should be utilised in patients unable to clean their teeth (e.g., chlorhexidine mouthwash). Chlorhexidine will prevent the development of plaque, but will not remove plaque in situ (which needs to be removed mechanically). Chlorhexidine is used twice daily Interdental cleaning should be done once daily using dental floss, dental tape or interdental brushes Cleaning of the oral mucosa should be done after every meal and involves either rinsing the mouth with water, or using a moistened gauze (if the patient is unable to rinse their mouth with water) Box 3 Daily denture hygiene measuresDentures should be removed overnightDentures should be cleaned outside the mouth, and over a bowl/ sink of water (to prevent damage if dropped)Cleaning involves once daily (usually at night) mechanical cleaning using a denture brush or a toothbrush, and a non-abrasive denture cleanser (but not toothpaste). Alternative options include using a nailbrush, and soap and water. Dentures should be rinsed after mealsCleaning also involves once daily (usually overnight) biochemical cleaning using a commercial denture-cleansing solution. Alternative options include using dilute sodium hypochlorite (non-metallic dentures), or chlorhexidine (all dentures). The latter should be considered in patients with oral infections. Dentures should be rinsed after cleaningIt is important to also clean any remaining teeth, periodontium and the oral mucosa (see Box 2)The management of oral problems should primarily involve treatment of the underlying cause (with appropriate symptom control) (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V)
Many oral problems have potentially treatable underlying causes. In such cases, the optimal management is treatment of the underlying cause, although patients may also require symptomatic treatment. If the underlying cause is not treated, it is likely that the oral problem will persist (and even worsen). Moreover, there is an increased risk of developing complications. For example, halitosis may be the result of periodontal disease [bib_ref] Periodontal diseases as a source of halitosis: a review of the evidence..., De Geest [/bib_ref] , and non-specific measures to manage halitosis may not resolve this problem (see below). Additionally, uncontrolled periodontal disease may progress to cause important complications such as local infection (abscess), systemic infection (pneumonia), and/or loss of dentition.

## The management of oral problems should be individualised (category of guideline -suggestion; level of evidence-v)
As with other problems in this group of patients, the management of oral problems should be individualised. Patients should receive the "optimal" management, which invariably involves treatment of the underlying cause (point 3). However, interventions may need to be amended as a result of the patient's performance status, their co-morbidities and especially their personal preferences. For example, the optimal management of poorly fitting dentures is to replace the relevant denture. However, relining the denture is an alternative strategy and can be performed at the bedside/in the patient's home.
The management of oral problems should be evidence-based and/or based upon established principles from dentistry/oral medicine (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V)
Unfortunately, oral care within clinical practice (palliative care) is often based on "anecdotal remedies" [bib_ref] Mouth care and skin care in palliative medicine. Chlorhexidine mouth washes are..., Lucas [/bib_ref] , with little regard for the established principles of oral care developed within dentistry/oral medicine. Thus, many recommended interventions are relatively ineffective, or completely inappropriate, for their stated purpose(s) [fig_ref] Table 3: Inappropriate oral care interventions [/fig_ref] [bib_ref] End-of-life palliative oral care in Norwegian health institutions, Kvalheim [/bib_ref].

## Relevant treatments/interventions should be available in all settings wherever possible (category of guideline -suggestion; level of evidence-v)
All patients should have access to the optimal treatment for their oral problems, although treatment needs to be individualised according to the patient's condition, their care setting and their ability to attend other care settings (e.g. dental surgery, hospital). Nevertheless, most common interventions can be provided in any care settings, and some dental procedures can be performed at the bedside/in the patient's home ("domiciliary dental care").

## All patients with oral problems should be regularly reassessed (category of guideline -suggestion; level of evidence-v)
All patients with oral problems need to be reassessed in a timely manner (after initiation of treatment), and regularly going forward. The objectives of re-assessment are to determine (a) changes in the clinical condition; (b) adherence with any treatment; (c) the effectiveness of the treatment and (d) the tolerability of the treatment. Inadequate reassessment may result in continuation of ineffective interventions and so persistence or progression of the oral problem.
Patients with recurrent oral problems often have an ongoing underlying cause(s). For example, oral candidosis is often associated with xerostomia/salivary gland hypofunction in patients with advanced cancer [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in community-based patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] , and although the clinical infection may respond to a course of antifungal medication, it invariably reoccurs after a short period of time (if the salivary gland hypofunction is not adequately managed-see the "Dry mouth (xerostomia; salivary gland hypofunction)" section).

## Patients with resistant oral problems should be referred to a specialist for further management (category of guideline -suggestion; level of evidence-v)
Patients with ongoing oral problems should be referred to an appropriate specialist for further investigation and management (e.g. experienced dental professional, special care dentist, oral medicine professional), especially when the problem is unexplained, is unresponsive (to primary treatment) and/or worsens over time. Glycerol has a "drying action" on the oral mucosa [bib_ref] Comparing Moi-Stir to lemon-glycerin swabs, Poland [/bib_ref]. Lemon is acidic (ascorbic, citric acid) and should not be used in patients with salivary gland hypofunction/SGH (especially dentate patients)-acidic products cause oral discomfort and promote dental demineralisation ("erosion"), dental caries and oral candidosis [1] Acidic artificial salivas Xerostomia [bib_ref] Oral health is an important issue in end-of-life care, Adkinson [/bib_ref] Acidic products should not be used in patients with SGH (see above) Pineapple chunks Dirty mouthXerostomia [bib_ref] Oral health is an important issue in end-of-life care, Adkinson [/bib_ref] Pineapple is acidic (ascorbic acid), and such products should not be used in patients with SGH Vitamin C tablets Dirty mouth/teethXerostomia [bib_ref] Mouth care, De Conno [/bib_ref] Vitamin C tablets are acidic (ascorbic acid, often with citric acid), and such products should not be used in patients with SGH Sweets/candies Xerostomia Sweets/candies contain sugars, which cause dental caries (especially in patients with SGH) Sweets/candies may be acidic, and such products should not be used in patients with SGH

## Dental professionals should be members of the extended oncology and palliative care multidisciplinary teams (category of guidelinesuggestion; level of evidence-v)
Dental professionals are essential members of the oncology multidisciplinary team [bib_ref] Appropriate and necessary oral care for people with cancer: guidance to obtain..., Epstein [/bib_ref] , particularly in terms of preventing and managing the oral complications of anticancer treatment. Similarly, dental professionals are essential members of the extended palliative care multidisciplinary team [bib_ref] The need and availability of dental services for terminally ill cancer patients:..., Ohno [/bib_ref] , although there is limited information on their actual roles within these teams [bib_ref] Dental care of patients in a hospice, Walls [/bib_ref]. Clearly, an important role is to provide specialist management of complex oral problems and those relating to the dentition, periodontal tissues and dental prostheses [bib_ref] Dental care of patients in a hospice, Walls [/bib_ref]. However, an equally important role is to provide training to non-specialist healthcare professionals on maintaining oral hygiene and managing oral problems.

## Oral care in the terminal phase should focus on patient comfort (category of guidelinesuggestion; level of evidence-v)
Oral care often takes centre stage during the terminal phase (i.e. last days/weeks of life), although the objective outcomes of regular end-of-life "mouth care" regimens are frequently disappointing [bib_ref] An integrated care pathway for the last two days of life: Wales-wide..., Fowell [/bib_ref]. The primary aim of oral care should be to maintain oral comfort, rather than to maintain pristine oral hygiene [1]. Indeed, oral hygiene measures often need amending during this period due to patient-related factors. Oral care should be paused and/or discontinued, if there is any indication that it causes distress or discomfort to the patient [1]. Oral care is often delegated to families during the terminal phase. Some family members welcome this task, whilst others find it difficult and/or distressing. It is important, if appropriate, that families are given the opportunity to provide oral care [1]. Equally, it is important that families are not coerced into providing oral care. Furthermore, healthcare professionals must provide adequate instructions and ongoing support and supervision [1]: the former includes the goal of oral care, i.e. to maintain oral comfort (see above re pausing/discontinuing oral care).

## Oral care in the terminal phase is not a substitute for clinically assisted hydration (category of guideline -suggestion; level of evidence-v)
Dry mouth is a common problem in patients at the endof-life, and small amounts of water ("mouth care") may temporarily relieve this symptom. Thirst is a less common problem in this group of patients, and again small amounts of water may again temporarily relieve this symptom [bib_ref] Comfort care for terminally ill patients: the appropriate use of nutrition and..., Mccann [/bib_ref]. However, thirst often reflects dehydration, and small amounts of water will not reverse dehydration (or equally maintain hydration). Hence, oral care should be considered a comfort measure, and not a substitute for clinically assisted hydration (in applicable patients).

## Oral care should be an integral component of all medical and nursing curricula (undergraduate and postgraduate) ( category of guidelinesuggestion; level of evidence -v)
Medical and nursing curricula generally include minimal education on oral care and/or oral problems [bib_ref] The need for dental involvement in palliative care, Coulter [/bib_ref]. However, given the prevalence of oral problems, and their relevance of oral problems to general health, these topics should be an integral component of all medical and nursing curricula worldwide. Moreover, dental professionals should be involved in curricula development, and particularly the development of educational resources (to ensure that the content is appropriate).
The evidence base for the above generic suggestions is limited, and the evidence base for the following specific suggestions is equally limited. Hence, further research is required in this group of patients. Research in patients with advanced cancer is challenging but not impossible (as researchers have consistently demonstrated) [bib_ref] Clinical trial of a mucin-containing oral spray for treatment of xerostomia in..., Sweeney [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A comparison of artificial saliva and pilocarpine in the management of xerostomia..., Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A comparison of artificial saliva and chewing gum in the management of..., Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A mouth rinse based on a tea solution of Salvia officinalis for..., Monsen [/bib_ref]. In the meantime, oral care in patients with advanced cancer can be based on evidence derived from other groups of patients (and not on clinical anecdotes) [bib_ref] Mouth care and skin care in palliative medicine. Chlorhexidine mouth washes are..., Lucas [/bib_ref].

## Specific recommendations

## Dry mouth (xerostomia; salivary gland hypofunction)
Terminology Xerostomia refers to a subjective sensation of dryness of the mouth, whilst salivary gland hypofunction refers to an objective decrease in salivary gland secretion(s).

## Aetiology
There are many potential causes for a dry mouth in patients with advanced cancer [1]. However, the main cause relates to the adverse effects of medication used within general medicine and oncology/palliative care [bib_ref] Xerostomia in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref].

## Management
Management should include treatment of the underlying cause (if possible), e.g. discontinuation of offending medication (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V). Symptomatic management involves both nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions [bib_ref] Systematic literature review: xerostomia in advanced cancer patients, Hanchanale [/bib_ref].
Non-pharmacological interventions include water, artificial salivas (Category of guideline-recommendation: Level of evidence-II, i.e. mucin-based artificial saliva) [bib_ref] Clinical trial of a mucin-containing oral spray for treatment of xerostomia in..., Sweeney [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A comparison of artificial saliva and pilocarpine in the management of xerostomia..., Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A comparison of artificial saliva and chewing gum in the management of..., Davies [/bib_ref] , chewing gum (Category of guideline-recommendation: Level of evidence-II) [bib_ref] A comparison of artificial saliva and chewing gum in the management of..., Davies [/bib_ref] and acupuncture (No guideline possible) [bib_ref] Acupuncture for patients in hospital-based home care suffering from xerostomia, Rydholm [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for palliative care of cancer: overview..., Wu [/bib_ref]. Artificial salivas tend to have a longer duration of action than water [1], and a number of commercial products are available, which differ in formulation (e.g. spray, gel), pH (e.g. acidic, neutral), lubricant (e.g. mucin, carboxymethylcellulose) and additional ingredients (e.g. flavourings, fluoride). Ideally, an artificial saliva should have a neutral pH (to limit demineralisation of the teeth) and contain fluoride (to enhance remineralisation of the teeth).
Pharmacological interventions include pilocarpine (Category of guideline-recommendation: Level of evidence-II) [bib_ref] A comparison of artificial saliva and chewing gum in the management of..., Davies [/bib_ref] and related products (e.g. bethanechol, cevimeline). (Currently, there is no evidence to support the use of intraoral pilocarpine eyedrops in this condition [bib_ref] Testing pilocarpine drops for dry mouth in advanced cancer using n-of-1 trials:..., Nikles [/bib_ref].
Saliva stimulants (e.g. sugar-free chewing gum, pilocarpine) are generally preferred to saliva substitutes (e.g. water, artificial salivas) when the salivary glands can be stimulated, since they are more effective in relieving xerostomia, and they should improve the other problems associated with salivary gland hypofunction (see above)
[1]. It should be noted that the evidence on managing xerostomia/salivary gland hypofunction per se is of limited quality [bib_ref] Inteventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies, Furness [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non-pharmacological interventions, Furness [/bib_ref].

## Taste disturbance

## Terminology
Patients with advanced cancer report a variety of taste disturbances, which include ageusia (an absence of taste sensation), hypogeusia (a decrease in taste sensation), hypergeusia (an increase in taste sensation) and dysgeusia (a distortion of normal taste sensation) [bib_ref] Upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: relationship to nutritional and..., Bovio [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Characterization of chemosensory alterations in advanced cancer reveals specific chemosensory phenotypes impacting..., Brisbois [/bib_ref].

## Aetiology
There are several potential causes of new-onset taste disturbance in patients with advanced cancer, including salivary gland hypofunction, poor oral hygiene, medication [bib_ref] Drugrelated dysgeusia: a systematic review, Mortazavi [/bib_ref] and nutritional deficiencies (e.g. zinc). Moreover, taste disturbance may be an ongoing complication of the cancer and/or the oncological treatment (e.g. systemic chemotherapy, head and neck radiotherapy) [bib_ref] Taste disorders in cancer patients: pathogenesis, and approach to assessment and management, Epstein [/bib_ref].

## Management
Management should include treatment of the underlying cause (if possible), e.g. treatment of salivary gland hypofunction (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-IV) [bib_ref] Taste disorders following cancer treatment: report of a case series, Epstein [/bib_ref]. Symptomatic management primarily involves non-pharmacological interventions.
Patients with taste disturbance should be reviewed by a dietitian, and a personalised nutritional plan developed (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V). Strategies that may be useful include utilisation of foods that taste "good"; avoidance of foods that taste "bad"; enhancing the taste of the food using salt, sugar and other flavourings; moistening the food and addressing the presentation, smell, consistency and temperature of the food, i.e. paying attention to other aspects of flavour (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V) [bib_ref] Assessing alterations in taste and their impact on cancer care, Wismer [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A matter of taste: making the distinction between taste and flavor is..., Boltong [/bib_ref].
Pharmacological interventions reported to be effective in different cohorts of patients with cancer, include zinc supplements (no guideline possible), dronabinol (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-II, i.e. pilot study) [bib_ref] Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may palliate altered chemosensory perception in cancer patients: results of a..., Brisbois [/bib_ref] , megestrol acetate (no guideline possible) [bib_ref] A state-of-the-art review of the management and treatment of taste and smell..., Thorne [/bib_ref] and clonazepam (no guideline possible) [bib_ref] Taste disorders following cancer treatment: report of a case series, Epstein [/bib_ref].

## Oral discomfort/pain

## Aetiology
There are several potential causes of new onset oral discomfort/pain in patients with advanced cancer, including salivary gland hypofunction [bib_ref] Xerostomia in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] , mucosal conditions (i.e. infection/inflammation/ulceration) [bib_ref] Oral health conditions affect functional and social activities of terminally ill cancer..., Fischer [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] A survey of mouth pain and dryness in patients with advanced cancer, Oneschuk [/bib_ref] , dental-related problems, denture-related problems [bib_ref] A survey of mouth pain and dryness in patients with advanced cancer, Oneschuk [/bib_ref] , neurological conditions and pain referred from adjacent structures.

## Management
Management should include treatment of the underlying cause (if possible), e.g. relining, adjusting, or replacing poorly fitting dentures (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V). Symptomatic management primarily involves pharmacological interventions, which may include both topical agents and systemic analgesics. The optimal analgesic regimen depends on the aetiology of the pain (cancer-related, coexisting condition), the pathophysiology of the pain (nociceptive, neuropathic) and a variety of patient-related factors (e.g. co-morbidities, personal preference) (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V).
Bland rinses (e.g. normal saline) can often provide some relief for patients with oral ulceration, including patients with oral mucositis. Similarly, "coating" agents can provide some relief for patients with oral ulceration, particularly in patients with pain on eating/drinking ("contact"/incident pain). However, many patients with oral ulceration have associated inflammation, and so merely covering the ulcer(s) does not relieve the discomfort. Topical analgesics can be highly effective in some cases, and options include benzydamine hydrochloride solution/spray (anti-inflammatory), oral morphine solution (opioid) and doxepin solution (antidepressant) [bib_ref] Orofacial pain in cancer: part II -clinical perspectives and management, Epstein [/bib_ref]. Topical analgesics are less likely to cause systemic adverse effects, and so are often considered as first line treatments. Local anaesthetics have a limited role, and care must be taken to prevent inadvertent aspiration. Equally, topical steroids have a limited role (e.g. recurrent aphthous stomatitis), and care must be taken to exclude oral problems that might worsen with steroids (e.g. oral infections).
Systemic analgesics can also be effective, but there are limited reasons for chronic administration (due to concerns about adverse effects).
Interventional techniques are another option in highly select cohorts of patients (e.g. patients with intraoral tumours).

## Halitosis

## Terminology
Patients with genuine halitosis (i.e. objective evidence of malodour) can be subclassified into those with physiological halitosis (i.e. no evidence of underlying condition) and pathological halitosis (i.e. evidence of underlying condition).

## Aetiology
Physiological halitosis is the most common type: the cause of physiological halitosis is the bacterial putrefaction of food debris, epithelial cells, blood cells and saliva within the oral cavity (and particularly on the posterior part of the dorsum of the tongue) and poor/limited oral hygiene. The cause of pathological halitosis may be an infection, inflammation or malignancy. In ~ 90% such cases, the source of the malodour is the oral cavity, but other potential sources include the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses), the lower respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract or a systemic metabolic problem.

## Management
Management depends on the type of halitosis: in patients with physiological halitosis, it primarily involves oral hygiene measures, whilst in patients with pathological halitosis, it primarily involves treatment of the underlying cause (if possible), e.g. antibiotics for infections (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V).
The management of physiological halitosis includes [bib_ref] Review of the treatment strategies for oral malodour, Quirynen [/bib_ref] (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V) (a) generic oral hygiene measures (see above); (b) avoidance of odorous foodstuffs (e.g. garlic, onions); (c) alcohol cessation; (d) smoking cessation; (e) measures to reduce bacterial numbers (e.g. tongue cleaning, chlorhexidinemouthwash); (f) measures to reduce bacterial substrate (e.g. tongue cleaning, "professional" dental/periodontal cleaning) and (g) measures to convert offensive volatile sulphur compounds to inoffensive non-volatile compounds (e.g. zinc salts-toothpaste, mouthwash; sodium bicarbonate/baking soda -toothpaste). Many oral care products are available to manage halitosis, and those with specific properties (see above) should be prescribed in preference to those with simply "masking"/cosmetic properties (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V). It should be noted that the evidence on managing halitosis in general is of limited quality.

## Oral candidosis

## Aetiology
Candida species are opportunistic microorganisms, and so oral candidosis usually occurs as a result of changes in host systemic and/or intraoral factors. In patients with advanced cancer, oral candidosis has been found to be specifically associated with poor performance status, salivary gland hypofunction, presence of denture and use of systemic steroids [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oral candidosis in community-based patients with advanced cancer, Davies [/bib_ref]. However, other factors may also have a role in the development of oral candidosis in this group of patients (e.g. immunosuppression, systemic antibiotics, mucosal damage) [bib_ref] A systematic review of oral fungal infections in patients receiving cancer therapy, Lalla [/bib_ref].

## Management
The management of confirmed oral candidosis primarily involves the use of antifungal medication (i.e. polyenes, azoles). However, antifungal medication (especially azoles) should preferably be reserved for patients with laboratoryconfirmed oral candidosis (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V), since other oral conditions can have similar features, and antifungal resistance is reported to be common in this group of patients [bib_ref] Resistance amongst yeasts isolated from the oral cavities of patients with advanced..., Davies [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] High prevalence of non-albicans yeasts and detection of anti-fungal resistance in the..., Bagg [/bib_ref] [bib_ref] Oropharyngeal candidiasis in palliative care patients in Denmark, Astvad [/bib_ref]. Importantly, antifungal medication should be combined with treatment of predisposing factors (see above) (Category of guidelinesuggestion: Level of evidence-V), since many patients will recur after the course of antifungal medication is completed (due to persistence of predisposing factors).
A variety of topical and systemic antifungal medications are available for treating oral candidosis. The choice of treatment depends on a number of factors [1] (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V): (a) extent of disease -topical agents are appropriate for treating localised disease, whilst systemic agents are more appropriate for treating multifocal/generalised disease; (b) immunocompetence -systemic agents are more appropriate for treating immunosuppressed patients; (c) drug resistance -resistance to the polyenes is uncommon, although resistance to the azoles is relatively common; (d) concomitant disease -azoles have a number of relative/ absolute contraindications; (e) concomitant medication -systemic azoles have a number of drug interactions; (f) patient preference; (g) ease of use -topical agents are more difficult to use, and efficacy is dependent on correct usage (i.e. contact with lesions) and (g) patient adherence. (Currently, there is no robust evidence to support the use of single doses of fluconazole in this condition [bib_ref] Single-dose fluconazole therapy for oral thrush in hospice and palliative medicine patients, Lagman [/bib_ref] (no guideline possible)).
Other options for patients with recurrent/resistant oral candidosis, or patients with difficulties in using conventional antifungal medication, include chlorhexidine (no guideline possible) [bib_ref] Adjunctive use of chlorhexidine in oral candidoses: a review, Ellepola [/bib_ref] and tea tree oil (no guideline possible) [bib_ref] Susceptibility to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil of yeasts isolated from the..., Bagg [/bib_ref].
It should be noted that the successful management of denture-related stomatitis (with/without angular cheilitis) depends on a combination of antifungal drug treatment, and disinfection of the denture (see Box 3) (Category of guideline-suggestion: Level of evidence-V). When the patient wears a denture, the denture should be treated as well to prevent reinfection of the oral cavity, e.g. by immersing it in a chlorhexidine mouth rinse.

# Conclusion
This guidance provides an evidence-based framework for the management of common oral problems in patients with advanced cancer, although every patient requires individualised management (based upon a thorough assessment). Many of the recommendations are based on low levels of evidence, and/or evidence extrapolated from other groups of patients with cancer. However, patients with advanced cancer are in many ways a unique group, and so further research is warranted in this specific group in order to improve their oral care (and quality of life).

## Appendix 2 mascc criteria for grading recommendations [6]
Levels of evidence. I Evidence obtained from meta-analysis of multiple, welldesigned, controlled studies; randomised trials with low falsepositive and false-negative errors (high power) II Evidence obtained from at least one well-designed experimental study; randomised trials with high false-positive and/or falsenegative errors (low power) III Evidence obtained from well-designed, quasi-experimental studies, such as nonrandomized, controlled single-group, pretest-posttest comparison, cohort, time or matched case-control series IV Evidence obtained from well-designed, non-experimental studies, such as comparative and correlational descriptive and case studies V Evidence obtained from case reports and clinical examples Categories of guidelines.

## Recommendation
Reserved for guidelines that are based on Level I or Level II evidence Suggestion
Used for guidelines that are based on Level III, Level IV and Level V evidence; this implies panel consensus on the interpretation of this evidence No guideline possible Used when there is insufficient evidence on which to base a guideline; this implies (1) that there is little or no evidence regarding the practice in question, or (2) that the panel lacks consensus on the interpretation of existing evidence Author contribution Prof Davies led the project, screened the papers, extracted data from the papers and wrote the initial/subsequent drafts of the guidance. Dr Jones performed the literature searches, screened the papers, extracted data from the papers and contributed to the drafts of the guidance. All the other authors screened the papers and contributed to the drafts of the guidance. All authors approved the final version of the guidance.
Funding Open Access funding provided by the IReL Consortium Data availability Not applicable.
Code availability Not applicable.

# Declarations
Ethics approval Not applicable.
Consent to participate Not applicable.

## Consent for publication not applicable.

## Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
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[fig] 1 -: All patients with advanced cancer should be regularly assessed for oral problems (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 2-All patients need a regular oral hygiene regimen, and dependent patients need appropriate support with oral hygiene (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 3-The management of oral problems should primarily involve treatment of the underlying cause (with appropriate symptom control) (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 4-The management of oral problems should be individualised (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 5-The management of oral problems should be evidence-based and/or based upon established principles from dentistry/oral medicine (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 6-Relevant treatments/interventions should be available in all settings wherever possible (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 7-All patients with oral problems should be regularly reassessed (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 8-Patients with resistant oral problems should be referred to a specialist for further management (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 9-Dental professionals should be members of the extended oncology and palliative care multidisciplinary teams (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 10-Oral care in the terminal phase should focus on patient comfort (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 11-Oral care in the terminal phase is not a substitute for clinically assisted hydration (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) 12-Oral care should be an integral component of medical and nursing curricula (undergraduate, postgraduate) (Category of guideline -suggestion; Level of evidence-V) [/fig]
[table] Table 1: Prevalence of oral symptoms in a cohort of patients with advanced cancer receiving specialist palliative care[13] [/table]
[table] Table 2: Prevalence of oral conditions in patients with advanced cancer[9][10][11][12][14][15][16][17][18][19] [/table]
[table] Table 3: Inappropriate oral care interventions [/table]
[table] 49: Dental caries-MESH 50. Periodontal diseases-MESH 51. Gingivitis-MESH 52. Oral fungal infections-keyword 53. Candidiasis, oral-MESH 54. Oral candidosis-keyword 55. Oral viral infections-keyword 56. Halitosis-MESH and (search terms 57-58) 57. Neoplasm-MESH or 58. Cancer-keyword [/table]