Oral microbiome diversity and composition before and after chemotherapy treatment in pediatric oncology patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study investigated the impact of anticancer treatment on the oral microbiome in pediatric patients and its association with oral mucositis (OM).

Materials and methods

A double-blind, randomized trial involving 34 pediatric cancer patients (ages 2-17.99) with solid or hematological malignancies. Mucosal swab samples were collected before and after chemotherapy. Patients underwent two 7-day rinse cycles-one with Caphosol and one with saline-in a randomized order. Bacterial DNA from 110 mucosal swabs was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results

Chemotherapy altered bacterial composition. No life-threatening OM cases (WHO grade 4) were observed, but mild to severe OM (grades 1-3) occurred in three patients. In patients without oral lesions, Bergeyella ge

SUBMITTER: Immonen E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12220142 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature