TY - JOUR

T1 - Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell therapy for radiation-induced salivary gland hypofunction in animal models

T2 - a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

AU - Jansson, Per Marcus

AU - Lynggaard, Charlotte Duch

AU - Carlander, Amanda Fenger

AU - Jensen, Siri Beier

AU - Follin, Bjarke

AU - Hoeeg, Cecilie

AU - Kousholt, Birgitte Saima

AU - Larsen, Rasmus Tolstrup

AU - Gronhoj, Christian

AU - Jakobsen, Kathrine Kronberg

AU - Rimborg, Susie

AU - Fischer-Nielsen, Anne

AU - Menon, Julia M. L.

AU - von Buchwald, Christian

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Salivary gland (SG) hypofunction (objectively reduced saliva flow rate) and xerostomia (subjective sensation of dry mouth) are common and burdensome side effects of radiotherapy to the head and neck region. Currently, only sparse symptomatic treatment is available to ease the discomfort of xerostomia. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy on SG function after radiation-induced injury.Methods: This systematic review will include animal intervention studies assessing efficacy and safety of MSCs in treating radiation-induced SG hypofunction. The primary outcome is the effect of MSC administration on salivary flow rates (SFR), by comparing treated groups to control groups when available. Secondary outcomes are morphological and immunohistochemical effects as well as safety of MSC treatment. Electronic searches in MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase databases will be constructed and validated according to the peer review of electronic search strategies (PRESS) and assessed by two independent researchers. Data from eligible studies will be extracted, pooled, and analyzed using random-effects models. Risk of bias will be evaluated with the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool.Discussion: Thus far, critical appraisal of MSC therapy as an effective treatment for SG hypofunction caused solely by radiation injury has not been conducted. A summary of the existing literature on preclinical studies concerning this issue can provide valuable information about effectiveness, mode of action, and safety, allowing further optimization of preclinical and clinical trials.

AB - Background: Salivary gland (SG) hypofunction (objectively reduced saliva flow rate) and xerostomia (subjective sensation of dry mouth) are common and burdensome side effects of radiotherapy to the head and neck region. Currently, only sparse symptomatic treatment is available to ease the discomfort of xerostomia. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy on SG function after radiation-induced injury.Methods: This systematic review will include animal intervention studies assessing efficacy and safety of MSCs in treating radiation-induced SG hypofunction. The primary outcome is the effect of MSC administration on salivary flow rates (SFR), by comparing treated groups to control groups when available. Secondary outcomes are morphological and immunohistochemical effects as well as safety of MSC treatment. Electronic searches in MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase databases will be constructed and validated according to the peer review of electronic search strategies (PRESS) and assessed by two independent researchers. Data from eligible studies will be extracted, pooled, and analyzed using random-effects models. Risk of bias will be evaluated with the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool.Discussion: Thus far, critical appraisal of MSC therapy as an effective treatment for SG hypofunction caused solely by radiation injury has not been conducted. A summary of the existing literature on preclinical studies concerning this issue can provide valuable information about effectiveness, mode of action, and safety, allowing further optimization of preclinical and clinical trials.

KW - Systematic review

KW - Radiotherapy

KW - Xerostomia

KW - Salivary gland hypofunction

KW - Stem cells

KW - QUALITY-OF-LIFE

KW - STEM-CELLS

KW - XEROSTOMIA

KW - HEAD

KW - STRATEGIES

U2 - 10.1186/s13643-022-01943-2

DO - 10.1186/s13643-022-01943-2

M3 - Review

C2 - 35436971

VL - 11

JO - Systematic Reviews

JF - Systematic Reviews

SN - 2046-4053

IS - 1

M1 - 72

ER -