SH is the matron at St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice. She has worked in specialist Selleckchem Bleomycin palliative care for 22 years, and her interests include the role of specialist palliative care in changing public knowledge and behaviour in relation to death and loss. MLW is a Professor at the University of Liverpool, undertaking psychosocial research in palliative care and she is also an Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine undertaking clinical outpatient work. Pre-publication history The pre-publication history for this Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical paper can be accessed here: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-684X/12/40/prepub
It is estimated that 39,000 Australians die from malignant

disease yearly. Of these, 60% to 88% of advanced cancer patients suffer xerostomia, the subjective feeling of mouth dryness. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Xerostomia has significant physical, social and psychological consequences which compromise function and quality of life. Pilocarpine is one treatment for xerostomia. Most studies have shown some variation in individual response to pilocarpine, in terms of dose used, and

timing and extent of response. We will Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical determine a population estimate of the efficacy of pilocarpine drops (6 mg) three times daily compared to placebo in relieving dry mouth in palliative care (PC) patients. A secondary aim is to assess individual patients’ response to pilocarpine and provide reports detailing individual response to patients and their treating clinician. Methods/Design Aggregated n-of-1 trials (3 cycle, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover trials using Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical standardized measures

of effect). Individual trials will identify which patients respond to the medication. To produce a population estimate of a treatment effect, the results of all cycles will be aggregated. Discussion Managing dry mouth with treatment supported by the best possible evidence will improve functional status of patients, and improve quality of life for patients and carers. Using n-of-1 trials will accelerate the rate of accumulation Metalloexopeptidase Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of high-grade evidence to support clinical therapies used in PC. Trial registration Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry Number: 12610000840088. Keywords: Pilocarpine, n-of-1 trial, Palliative care, Xerostomia, Advanced cancer Background It is estimated that 39,000 Australians die from malignant disease yearly [1]. Of these, 60 to 88% of advanced cancer patients suffer xerostomia [2], the subjective feeling of mouth dryness. Medications, particularly those with anti-cholinergic side effects such as opioids [3], are the most common cause of xerostomia. Other cases are seen in patients receiving radiotherapy for malignant tumours in the head and neck region as treatment may include salivary glands in their fields causing hypofunction.