A study on the microbiome within oropharyngeal cancer tissues

Abstract

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), a prevalent head and neck malignancy, is witnessing a rise in incidence and mortality rates annually. Our study aimed to understand the microbial composition within OPC tissue, utilizing the 2bRAD-M technique to analyze microbiome characteristics of tissue samples from 46 OPC patients and 31 with tonsillitis, followed by bioinformatics analysis. We identified higher relative abundances of Selenomonas sputigena, Nocardia farcinica, and other species in the OPC group compared to the tonsillitis group. KEGG functional prediction revealed enrichment in bile secretion, type II polyketide backbone biosynthesis, staurosporine biosynthesis, and cGMP-PKG signaling pathways. HPV-positive OPC patients showed greater abundances of Pseudomonas and other species, with differential gene enrichment in “ATP-binding cassette” and “ACSL” processes. These microbial disparities may offer potential biomarkers for OPC prediction and insight into its progression, informing treatment strategies for HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients.