Human papillomavirus infection and tumor microenvironment are associated with the microbiota in patients with oropharyngeal cancers-pilot study

Background Previous microbiome studies of oropharyngeal cancer have shown that there are differences in the oral microbiota between human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative patients. Methods We collected saliva, normal tissue, and tumor biopsies from 13 patients with oropharyngeal cancer (eight HPV-positive, five HPV-negative). We obtained basic clinical data from each patient. Extracted DNA was 16S rRNA gene sequenced. Analysis was based on HPV status and sample site using univariate, multivariate, and mixed effect regression methods. Results Multivariate analysis methods separated samples based on HPV status (Adonis, p < 0.001). Comparison of patients showed that there were significant changes in microbial richness across all sites based on HPV status (linear mixed effects regression, p = 0.0002). Conclusions We found significant differences in overall microbial community and bacterial richness between oropharyngeal patients based on HPV status. Our results suggest that there are significant differences in the microbiome in patients with oropharyngeal cancer based on HPV status.

Automated summary

Our study revealed significant differences in the oral microbiota and bacterial richness of oropharyngeal cancer patients based on HPV status, confirming previous findings. This provides new microbiome evidence to support the treatment and prevention of oropharyngeal cancer.