Influence of site and smoking on malignant transformation in the oral cavity: Is the microbiome the missing link?

Sheila Galvin; Gary P Moran; Claire M Healy

doi:10.3389/froh.2023.1166037

Influence of site and smoking on malignant transformation in the oral cavity: Is the microbiome the missing link?

Front Oral Health. 2023 Mar 23:4:1166037. doi: 10.3389/froh.2023.1166037. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sheila Galvin¹, Gary P Moran², Claire M Healy¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
² Division of Oral Biosciences, School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Abstract

The tongue and floor of the mouth are high-risk sites for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), while smoking is its most significant risk factor. Recently, questions have been raised as to the role of the oral microbiome in OSCC because of a wealth of evidence demonstrating that the microbiome of OSCC differs from that of healthy mucosa. However, oral site and smoking also have a significant impact on oral microbial communities, and to date, the role these factors play in influencing the dysbiotic microbial communities of OSCC and precursor lesions has not been considered. This review aims to examine the influence of site and smoking on the oral microbiome and, in turn, whether these microbiome changes could be involved in oral carcinogenesis.

Keywords: OSCC; oral cancer; oral leukoplakia; oral microbiome; oral potentially malignant disorders; smoking.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

GPM and CMH were supported by an award from the Irish Health Research Board (grant no. ILP-POR-2019-030), which is funding several studies on the oral microbiome.