Abstract

Aims

To analyze changes in oropharynx microbiota composition after receiving induced chemotherapy followed by surgery for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) patients.

Methods

Clinical data and swab samples of 38 HPSCC patients (HPSCC group) and 30 patients with benign disease (control group, CG) were enrolled in the study. HPSCC group was stratified into two groups: induced chemotherapy group (IC) of 10 patients and non-induced chemotherapy group (nIC) of 28 patients. The microbiota from oropharyngeal membrane was analyzed through 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results

Alpha-diversity (Shannon and Ace indexes) and weighted UniFrac based beta-diversity severely decreased in the HPSCC group when compared with CG. In pre-operative comparisons, PCoA and NMDS analyses showed microbial structures in the IC group were more similar to CG than nIC. Both IC group and nIC group yielded significantly diverse post-operative communities in contrast to their pre-operative counterparts, evident by the decrease in genera Veillonella and Fusobacterium and increase in genera Streptococcus and Gemella. Given that post-operative oropharynx microbiota showed no difference between IC and nIC groups, the IC group showed less accumulation in anaerobic communities. The abundance of genera Fusobacterium, Parvimonas, Actinomyces were enhanced in the advanced stages (III/IV).

Conclusions

Oropharynx microbiota in the HPSCC group presents dysbiosis with low diversity and abundance. Induced chemotherapy is beneficial in adjusting the oropharynx microbial environment leading to fewer amounts of anaerobe accumulation after operation. Higher amounts of Fusobacterium in advanced stages (III/IV) may influence the progression of HPSCC.

Details

Title
Oropharynx microbiota transitions in hypopharyngeal carcinoma treatment of induced chemotherapy followed by surgery
Author
Hui-Ching Lau; Chi-Yao Hsueh; Gong, Hongli; Sun, Ji; Hui-Ying, Huang; Zhang, Ming; Zhou, Liang
Pages
1-13
Section
Research
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
14712180
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2598905309
Copyright
© 2021. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.