Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Radiation Treatment of Organotypic Cultures from Submandibular and Parotid Salivary Glands Models Key In Vivo Characteristics
Published on: May 17, 2019
Prognostic Factors for Complete Recovery From Xerostomia After Radiotherapy of Head-and-Neck Cancers
Dirk Rades1, Britta Warwas2, Karsten Gerull2
1Departments of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; dirk.rades@uksh.de.
Background/Aim:
Radiotherapy of head-and-neck cancers can cause xerostomia. This study investigated potential prognostic factors for complete recovery from this complication.
Patients And Methods:
Eighty head-and-neck cancer patients with radiation-induced xerostomia were retrospectively evaluated. Thirteen characteristics were analyzed for complete recovery (to grade 0) from xerostomia including age, sex, tumor site and stage, nodal stage, upfront surgery, mean dose to ipsilateral, contralateral and both parotid glands, chemotherapy, radiation type and dose, and initial grade of xerostomia.
Results:
Fifteen patients (18.8%) experienced complete recovery of xerostomia. Significant associations with complete recovery were found for initial grade 1 xerostomia (p<0.001), mean dose to contralateral parotid gland of <20 Gy (p=0.034), and radiation treatment without chemotherapy (p=0.047).
Conclusion:
Almost every fifth patient experienced complete recovery of xerostomia. Prognostic factors were identified that can guide radiation oncologists during the process of treatment planning.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Cancer Survival Analysis
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

