Leukoplakia in the Oral Cavity and Oral Microbiota: A Comprehensive Review

We reviewed the current published literature on the impact of oral microbiota on oral cavity leukoplakia (OLK), aiming at clarifying its role in disease transformation. The analysis unveiled that bacterial richness and diversity in the oral cavity tend to be decreased in OLK compared to healthy controls, with a reduction in the prevalent commensals, such as Streptococci, and elevation of anaerobes. Moreover, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia are recurrent findings, and they already have been linked to periodontal disease. These microbial community changes may also represent a marker for the transition from OLK to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Unfortunately, the reviewed studies present several limitations, making an objective comparison difficult. To overcome these biases, longitudinal studies are necessary.

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Oral Microbiota and Cancer Development

Pathobiology ◽

10.1159/000510979 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Heidi Tuominen ◽

Jaana Rautava

Keyword(s):

Oral Cavity ◽

Human Body ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Fusobacterium Nucleatum ◽

Cancer Development ◽

Oral Microbiota ◽

Carcinogenic Potential ◽

Potentially Malignant ◽

Activate Cell ◽

The Impact

Oral microbiota are among the most diverse in the human body. More than 700 species have been identified in the mouth, and new sequencing methods are allowing us to discover even more species. The anatomy of the oral cavity is different from that of other body sites. The oral cavity has mucosal surfaces (the tongue, the buccal mucosa, the gingiva, and the palate), hard tissues (the teeth), and exocrine gland tissue (major and minor salivary glands), all of which present unique features for microbiota composition. The connection between oral microbiota and diseases of the human body has been under intensive research in the past years. Furthermore, oral microbiota have been associated with cancer development. Patients suffering from periodontitis, a common advanced gingival disease caused by bacterial dysbiosis, have a 2–5 times higher risk of acquiring any cancer compared to healthy individuals. Some oral taxa, especially <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> and <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i>, have been shown to have carcinogenic potential by several different mechanisms. They can inhibit apoptosis, activate cell proliferation, promote cellular invasion, induce chronic inflammation, and directly produce carcinogens. These microbiota changes can already be seen with potentially malignant lesions of the oral cavity. The causal relationship between microbiota and cancer is complex. It is difficult to accurately study the impact of specific bacteria on carcinoma development in humans. This review focuses on the elucidating the interactions between oral cavity bacterial microbiota and cancer. We gather literature on the current knowledge of the bacterial contribution to cancer development and the mechanisms behind it.

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Error in Order of Figures in: The Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy on Survival in T1-2N1 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.1001/archoto.2010.65 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 136 (5) ◽

pp. 512

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Adjuvant Radiotherapy ◽

The Impact

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The impact of frozen sections on final surgical margins in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and lips: a retrospective analysis over an 11 years period

Head & Neck Oncology ◽

10.1186/1758-3284-3-56 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Stefan Gerber ◽

Carole Gengler ◽

Klaus W Grätz ◽

Astrid L Kruse

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Surgical Margins ◽

Frozen Sections ◽

The Impact

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Characteristics of Oral Microbiota in Patients with Esophageal Cancer in China

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2021/2259093 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Hezi Li ◽

Zhilin Luo ◽

Hong Zhang ◽

Nali Huang ◽

Dong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Oral Microbiota ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Group

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely associated with intestinal carcinogenesis, but the oral microbiota of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who live in high-risk regions in China has not been fully characterized. In the current study, oral microbial diversity was investigated in 33 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 35 healthy controls in Chongqing, China, by sequencing 16S rRNA of V3-V4 gene regions. There were statistically significant differences in oral microbiota between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and controls as determined via unweighted pair-group analysis with arithmetic means. At the phylum level, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, there were comparatively greater amounts of Firmicutes (34.0% vs. 31.1%) and Bacteroidetes (25.3% vs. 24.9%) and lower amounts of Proteobacteria (17.0% vs. 20.1%). At the genus level, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients exhibited comparatively greater amounts of Streptococcus (17.3% vs. 14.5%) and Prevotella_7 (8.6% vs. 8.5%) and lower amounts of Neisseria (8.1% vs. 10.7%). Using a linear discriminant analysis effect size method, Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia were identified in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma group. 10 genera were higher abundances identified in the healthy control group, and different 10 genera were identified in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma group. In the present study, there were significant differences in oral microbial compositions of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and healthy controls. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to further characterize relationships between oral microbiota and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

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