title: Effects of intensity-modulated radiotherapy on human oral microflora.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the biodiversity of the oral microflora of patients with head and neck cancer treated with postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or conventional radiotherapy (CRT). Pooled dental plaque samples were collected during the radiation treatment from patients receiving IMRT (n = 13) and CRT (n = 12). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to analyze the temporal variation of these plaque samples. The stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rates were also compared between IMRT and CRT patients. Reductions in the severity of hyposalivation were observed in IMRT patients compared with CRT patients. We also observed that the temporal stability of the oral ecosystem was significantly higher in the IMRT group (69.96 ± 7.82%) than in the CRT group (51.98 ± 10.45%) (P < 0.05). The findings of the present study suggest that IMRT is more conducive to maintaining the relative stability of the oral ecosystem than CRT.
authors: Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, PR China.
authors: Zi-Yang
authors: ZY
authors: Shao
authors: Zi-Sheng
authors: ZS
authors: Tang
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Yan
authors: Yun-Tao
authors: YT
authors: Jiang
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Ma
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Zheng-Wei
authors: ZW
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S