Chemoradiation therapy changes oral microbiome and metabolomic profiles in patients with oral cavity cancer and oropharyngeal cancer

Yenkai Lim; Kai Dun Tang; Avinash V Karpe; David J Beale; Makrina Totsika; Liz Kenny; Mark Morrison; Chamindie Punyadeera

doi:10.1002/hed.26619

Chemoradiation therapy changes oral microbiome and metabolomic profiles in patients with oral cavity cancer and oropharyngeal cancer

Head Neck. 2021 May;43(5):1521-1534. doi: 10.1002/hed.26619. Epub 2021 Feb 2.

Authors

Yenkai Lim^{1

2}, Kai Dun Tang^{1

2}, Avinash V Karpe³, David J Beale³, Makrina Totsika⁴, Liz Kenny⁵, Mark Morrison⁶, Chamindie Punyadeera^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ The Saliva and Liquid Biopsy Translational Research Team, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
² The Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
³ The Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ The School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 33527579
DOI: 10.1002/hed.26619

Abstract

Background: Patients with oral cavity cancer (OCC) and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) are often seen with locoregionally advanced disease requiring complex multimodality treatments. These treatments may have detrimental effects on the oral microbiome, which is critical to maintaining physiological balance and health.

Methods: The effects of different OCC and OPC treatment types on the oral microbiome and metabolomic profiles for 24-month post-treatment in patients with OCC and OPC were investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon next-generation sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively.

Results: Chemoradiation resulted in oral dysbiosis with specific depletion of genera which regulate the enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. These data also correlate with the oral metabolomic profiles with nitric oxide-related precursor, modulator, or catalyst significantly downregulated in saliva samples from patients' postchemoradiation.

Conclusions: Together, we have shown that oral dysbiosis due to the effects of chemoradiation could potentially have an impact on OCC and OPC patient's quality of life post-treatment.

Keywords: chemoradiation; oral cavity cancer; oral microbiome; oropharyngeal cancer; saliva.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Microbiota*
Mouth
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms* / therapy
Quality of Life
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S