Microbiota and their role in the pathogenesis of oral mucositis.
Oral mucositis in patients undergoing cancer therapy is a significant problem. Its prevalence ranges between 20 and 100%, depending on treatment type and protocols and patient-based variables. Mucositis is self-limiting when uncomplicated by infection. Unfortunately, the incidence of developing a local or systemic infection during the course of the treatment is very high. At this stage, it is unclear which role oral microbiota play in the onset, duration, and severity of oral mucositis. Nevertheless, there is growing interest in this underexplored topic, and new studies are being undertaken to unravel their impact on the pathogenesis of mucositis.
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Medicine, Mucositis Research Group, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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B
Vanhoecke
T
T
De Ryck
A
A
Stringer
T
T
Van de Wiele
D
D
Keefe
D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology
biofilm; chemotherapy; microbiota; mucositis; oral; radiotherapy