Oral Adverse Drug Reactions in Cancer Patients: pathogenesis, prevention and management

Advances in cancer therapy have significantly improved patient survival (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiotherapy); however, these treatments are often associated with a wide range of oral adverse drug reactions (OADRs) that can severely impact quality of life of patients as well as their adherence to treatment, and overall prognosis.Among the most frequent OADRs, there are oral mucositis (OM), xerostomia, taste alteration, oral infections, ulcerations, gingival diseases, and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).Despite growing awareness about OADRs, there remain major gaps in understanding the underlying biological mechanisms, inter-individual susceptibility, effective preventive measures, multidisciplinary management strategies, and long-term outcomes of OADRs in cancer patients.This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding of oral adverse drug reactions in cancer patients by integrating clinical, biological, and translational perspectives. We seek to identify the mechanisms driving these oral toxicities, their risk factors, and their impact on cancer care pathways.Contributions are encouraged to explore innovative preventive and therapeutic approaches, novel diagnostic tools, and the role of oral health professionals in the multidisciplinary management of oncology patients.By gathering diverse expertise across oral medicine, oncology, pharmacology, microbiology, and precision health, this Topic intends to promote early recognition of OADRs, foster personalized interventions, and improve patient-reported outcomes. Ultimately, our goal is to bridge the gap between oncology and oral healthcare, advancing evidence-based strategies to minimize drug-related oral complications and enhance the overall wellbeing of cancer patients.We welcome a broad variety of manuscript types that focus on oral ADRs in the context of cancer therapies. Specific themes may include (but are not limited to):• Mechanistic and pathobiological studies of oral-tissue injury induced by anticancer drugs, supportive medications or combination regimens.• Epidemiological assessments of incidence, severity, timing, risk-factors and patient-reported outcomes of oral ADRs in different cancer-treatment settings.• Preventive strategies: e.g., dental pre-treatment screening, prophylactic oral care protocols, biomarker-based risk stratification, patient education interventions.• Management approaches: e.g., oral hygiene protocols, topical/systemic therapies, multidisciplinary care models, nutritional/functional rehabilitation, management of long-term sequelae such as osteonecrosis or salivary gland dysfunction.• Implementation research and cost-effectiveness analyses of integrated oral oncology care pathways, including how oral ADRs impact cancer treatment adherence or outcomes.• Case reports and series that illustrate rare or emerging oral ADRs in cancer patients, particularly in the era of newer therapies (e.g., targeted agents, immunotherapies) and how these may differ from classical chemotherapy-related toxicities.By framing this topic within the “Oral Cancers” section, we particularly encourage manuscripts that link oral ADRs with patients who have or are at risk for oral/oropharyngeal malignancies (or their treatments) and emphasise oral-health-oncology interactions. Together, this collection of work aims to strengthen the evidence base and clinical pathways for oral ADR prevention and management in oncology. Topic editors: Rodolfo Mauceri, Romeo Patini, Mario Perez Sayans Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75840/oral-adverse-drug-reactions-in-cancer-patients-pathogenesis-prevention-and-management