Abstract
Management of cancers of oral cancers has remained a major challenge in India and globally. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are mostly employed for treatment which inflicts changes in oral mucosa and makes it vulnerable for bacterial colonization and eventual infections. This study aims at evaluating the changes in oropharyngeal flora (bacteria and yeast) in oral cancer patients treated by a combination of chemo-radiotherapy with the control groups comprising of non-cancerous patients living in the same environment. This prospective evaluation included Seventy-seven patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas in the study group. Whereas the control group comprised of twenty-five non-cancerous patients. Saliva samples were collected from patients with oral carcinomas and those of the control group for bacteriological examination, and were transported within 2 hours to the laboratory and immediately inoculated and incubated. The oral microflora samples collected were evaluated for the presence of bacteria in saliva in both study and control group of patients. We evaluated the change in salivary oral flora during chemo-radiotherapy treatment. A statistically significant increase in growth of normal as well as abnormal oral flora was observed post-radiation. Escherichia coli showed a significant decrease in post-RT and also near to significant in control. Various changes in salivary oral flora were observed during the course of chemo-radiotherapy in study and controls groups. This shows that there are some sensitive spots in the oral cavity where the occurrence of oral cancer is more.
Highlights
Incidence of Oral cancer is reported to be the sixth common cancer in our country and has remained a major challenge health challenge inspite of various progress made in management
This study aims at evaluating the changes in oropharyngeal flora in oral cancer patients treated by a combination of chemo-radiotherapy with the control groups comprising of non-cancerous patients living in the same environment
We evaluated the change in salivary oral flora during chemo-radiotherapy treatment
Summary
Incidence of Oral cancer is reported to be the sixth common cancer in our country and has remained a major challenge health challenge inspite of various progress made in management. It continues to have a five year mortality rate of about 50%1. The recent studies have indicated that prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has significantly increased in younger aged population. This phenomenal increase is due to enhance use of tobacco and its various derivatives at younger age and its prevalence is on ascendance. Radiotherapy continues to be the main stay of treatment in oral cancers and it causes modification of the oral mucosal barrier inclining it to colonization and oral infection
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