Determining Chemotherapy Agents in Saliva through Spectrometry and Chromatography Methods Correlated with Periodontal Status in Oncology Patients

Background: The aim of this study is to quantify chemotherapy agents in the saliva of oncology patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy treatment, and evaluate the oral and periodontal clinical modifications and possible correlations between them. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 29 patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment with cisplatin, oxaliplatin or gemcitabine. Three total saliva samples were gathered from each patient in three key points regarding chemotherapy. The samples were then analyzed through methods of mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography. Results: Cisplatin and gemcitabine were only found in saliva at 30 min and 2 h after chemotherapy administration, however oxaliplatin was determined in all three samples. Clinically, the most accentuated clinical attachment loss and CPITN scores were observed on mandibular teeth, whereas the highest values for the Sillness and Loe gingival index and gingival bleeding index were in the lateral maxillary areas. We found no statistically significant correlation between the periodontal parameters and chemotherapy concentration in saliva. Conclusion: A fraction of systemically administered chemotherapy can also be found in the saliva of oncology patients and have the potential to exacerbate oral infections and cause local and systemic complications throughout the oncology treatment. Further research is required in order to fully understand how chemotherapy can influence the development of periodontal disease.

Automated summary

This study found that chemotherapy agents can be detected in the saliva of oncology patients, potentially exacerbating oral infections and causing complications throughout treatment; clinically, chemotherapy may lead to periodontal issues, but there was no significant correlation found between periodontal parameters and chemotherapy concentration in saliva.