Targeted cancer therapies: Oral health care implications

Abstract Background Targeted treatments have been incorporated into oncology protocols, often with more traditional therapies, and are not totally free of adverse reactions, some of which affect the orofacial region. Methods The authors searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the US Food and Drug Administration Approved Drug Products database to identify reported adverse effects of targeted agents in the orofacial region as well as other implications in oral health care. Their principal focus was the relatively newer category of molecularly targeted drugs which are called small molecules (SMs). Results The authors identified several categories of SMs and biological agents (for example, monoclonal antibodies) with adverse effects in the orofacial region. The oral and perioral regions are also fields for which there are therapeutic applications for targeted therapies, particularly to treat malignant neoplasms such as head and neck cancers. Conclusions SMs are the most rapidly growing group of targeted cancer treatments. Patients receiving SMs and other targeted antineoplastic agents may require oral medicine advice and special-care dentistry. Practical Implications In this narrative review, the authors focus mainly on the orofacial adverse effects of targeted cancer therapies and outline many of the agents that are in use so the dentally focused reader can familiarize themselves with these adverse effects and agents.