Research progress on clinical manifestations and mechanism of radiation-induced taste dysfunction in head and neck cancers
10.3760/cma.j.cn113030-20211115-00468
- VernacularTitle:头颈放疗引起味觉障碍的临床表现及机制研究进展
- Author:
Zixia LI
1
;
Xingchen PENG
;
Xin XU
Author Information
1. 口腔疾病研究国家重点实验室，国家口腔疾病临床医学研究中心，四川大学华西口腔医院牙体牙髓病科，成都 610041
- Keywords:
Radiotherapy;
Stomatitis;
Taste disorders;
Taste buds;
Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology
2023;32(6):557-561
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Taste is a critical sensory function for human as it supports sustenance and alerts the body to toxins. Taste dysfunction is a common side effect of radiotherapy for the head and neck cancers, which is often accompanied by oral mucositis in the early stage. It is associated with anorexia, anxiety and depression, leading to declined quality of life and treatment tolerance. The incidence of radiation-induced taste dysfunction is high, and its clinical manifestations include increased taste threshold, tastelessness, and persistent bitter, sour or metallic taste, which exert significant effect upon the quality of life. At present, effective therapeutic measures for radiation-induced taste dysfunction are still lacking. In this article, research progresses on clinical characteristics and the potential mechanisms of radiation-induced taste dysfunction were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for the mechanism, prevention and treatment for taste dysfunction.
