Skip to main content
Top
Published in:

01-11-2024 | Radiotherapy | Research

Assessing the oral microbiome of head and neck cancer patients before and during radiotherapy

Authors: Adriele de Freitas Neiva Lessa, Alice Muglia Thomaz da Silva Amâncio, Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Oliveira, Silvia Ferreira de Sousa, Patricia Carlos Caldeira, Maria Cássia Ferreira De Aguiar, Paulo José Martins Bispo

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 11/2024

Login to get access

Abstract

Objective

To characterize the oral microbiome of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) before and during radiotherapy (RT), compared to healthy individuals. Evaluating the impact of oral microbiome in the clinical outcomes one year following the end of RT.

Methods

Oral samples were collected from HNSCC patients who underwent RT using the following regimens: no dose received (T0), dose 12—16 Gy (T1), dose 30—36 Gy (T2) and dose ≥ 60 Gy (T3). Samples from healthy individuals were also collected only once as a control group. Regions V1-V2 of the 16S rRNA were sequenced by Illumina and analyzed using Mothur.

Results

49 patients with HNSCC and 25 healthy individuals were included. At T0, HNSCC patients showed a lower abundance of Firmicutes and Streptococcus (p = 0.011, p = 0.002) and a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes (p = 0.005) compared to healthy individuals. During RT, Fusobacterium (p = 0.017) and Porphyromonas (p = 0.0008) decreased, while Streptococcus increased at T1 (p = 0.001). By T3, the differences in Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Streptococcus between the control and HNSCC groups were no longer significant (p > 0.3). Patients with higher initial abundances of Porphyromonas (p = 0.012) and Fusobacterium (p = 0.017) had poorer outcomes, including recurrence, metastasis, and death. In contrast, disease-free patients had a higher abundance of Streptococcus (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Oral microbiome dysbiosis was found in HNSCC patients. By the end of RT, the main initial differences in phylum and genus abundance observed at T0 between the control and HNSCC groups were no longer present. Higher abundances of Fusobacterium and Porphyromonas were associated with poor outcomes.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
12.
go back to reference Chen X, Xian B, Wei J et al (2022) Predictive value of the presence of Prevotella and the ratio of Porphyromonas gingivalis to Prevotella in saliva for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 12:997333. Published 2022 Oct 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.997333 Chen X, Xian B, Wei J et al (2022) Predictive value of the presence of Prevotella and the ratio of Porphyromonas gingivalis to Prevotella in saliva for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 12:997333. Published 2022 Oct 13. https://​doi.​org/​10.​3389/​fcimb.​2022.​997333
17.
18.
go back to reference Lessa AFN, Santos MAdS, Haddad JPA, Vieira CD, Santos SG (2020) Epidemiological and microbiological aspects of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy. Curitiba, Brazil. Braz J Dev 6(11):90838–55CrossRef Lessa AFN, Santos MAdS, Haddad JPA, Vieira CD, Santos SG (2020) Epidemiological and microbiological aspects of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy. Curitiba, Brazil. Braz J Dev 6(11):90838–55CrossRef
44.
go back to reference Shin JM, Luo T, Kamarajan P, Fenno JC, Rickard AH, Kapila YL (2017) Microbial communities associated with primary and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma - a high fusobacterial and low streptococcal signature. Sci Rep 7(1):9934. Published 2017 Aug 30. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09786-x Shin JM, Luo T, Kamarajan P, Fenno JC, Rickard AH, Kapila YL (2017) Microbial communities associated with primary and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma - a high fusobacterial and low streptococcal signature. Sci Rep 7(1):9934. Published 2017 Aug 30. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​s41598-017-09786-x
Metadata
Title
Assessing the oral microbiome of head and neck cancer patients before and during radiotherapy
Authors
Adriele de Freitas Neiva Lessa
Alice Muglia Thomaz da Silva Amâncio
Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Oliveira
Silvia Ferreira de Sousa
Patricia Carlos Caldeira
Maria Cássia Ferreira De Aguiar
Paulo José Martins Bispo
Publication date
01-11-2024
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 11/2024
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08953-x

Other articles of this Issue 11/2024

Supportive Care in Cancer 11/2024 Go to the issue
SPONSORED

Recent advances in the use of CAR T-cell therapies in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma

  • Webinar | 01-10-2024 | 12:30 (CEST)

In this webinar, Professor Martin Dreyling and an esteemed international panel of CAR T-cell therapy experts discuss the latest data on the safety, efficacy, and clinical impact of CAR T-cell therapies in the treatment of r/r DLBCL and r/r FL.

Please note, this webinar is not intended for healthcare professionals based in the US and UK.

Sponsored by:
  • Novartis Pharma AG
Chaired by: Prof. Martin Dreyling
Developed by: Springer Healthcare
Get a reminder for the on-demand version