Resumo

JESUS, Leila Guerreiro de et al. Oral effects of anticancer drugs: a literature review. RFO UPF [online]. 2016, vol.21, n.1, pp. 130-135. ISSN 1413-4012.

Neoplasias are responsible for a great portion of changes that affect individuals with cancer, and early diagnosis is critical to increase the chances of cure and ensure good patient prognosis. In many cases, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are used to fight cancer. Chemotherapy is a very common treatment and it may be performed as monotherapy or by the combination of drugs. According to the pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs and aspects such as frequency and duration of treatment, several oral side effects may be observed. Objective: To report the potential oral repercussions derived from the use of anticancer drugs. Literature review: Among the oral effects observed in the body because of treatment, the most common changes occur in the oral mucosa, affecting the patient's quality of life, the length of hospital stay, and hospital costs. The cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs may promote a direct action that results in flaking, ulceration, xerostomia, and neurotoxicity, and an indirect action that causes the appearance of bleeding and opportunistic infections due to immunosuppression caused by the drug. Final Considerations: Clinical studies based on scientific evidence are required for the adaptation of protocols directed to the prevention and control of oral lesions arising from the toxicity of anticancer drugs.

Palavras-chave : Chemotherapy.; Oral Mucosa.; Stomatitis..