title: The role of oral microorganisms in cancer therapy.
abstract: It has been assumed that the principal changes that occur in the oral flora during cancer therapy are yeast and gram-positive coccal proliferation. Recent studies have shown that treatment with topical antifungals or disinfectants has failed to relieve such complications as irradiation mucositis that occur during anticancer therapy. Thus, many of the oral lesions observed during treatment are not due to candidiasis or streptococcal infection. It has been shown that anticancer therapy impairs or reduces the carriage defense of the oropharynx and is accompanied by colonization and proliferation of gram-negative bacilli. It is argued that if oral infectious complications are to be prevented during anticancer therapy, then the selective elimination of gram-negative bacilli may be indicated.
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: van Saene
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology; D015003:Yeasts
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents