title: Analysis of salivary fluid and chemosensory functions in patients treated for primary malignant brain tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The frequency and causes of chemosensory (taste and smell) disorders in cancer patients remain under-reported. This study examined the impact of cancer therapy on taste/smell functions and salivary constituents in brain tumor patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two newly diagnosed patients with primary malignant gliomas underwent 6 weeks of combined modality treatment (CMD) with radiation and temozolomide followed by six monthly cycles of temozolomide. Chemosensory functions were assessed at 0, 3, 6, 10, 18, and 30 weeks with paired samples of saliva collected before and after an oral rinse with ferrous-spiked water. Iron (Fe)-induced oxidative stress was measured by salivary lipid oxidation (SLO); salivary proteins, electrolytes, and metals were determined. Parallel salivary analyses were performed on 22 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chemosensory complaints of cancer patients increased significantly during treatment (p = 0.04) except at 30 weeks. Fe-induced SLO increased at 10 and 18 weeks. When compared with healthy subjects, SLO, total protein, Na, K, Cu, P, S, and Mg levels, as averaged across all times, were significantly higher (p < 0.05), whereas salivary Zn, Fe, and oral pH levels were significantly lower in cancer patients (p < 0.05). Neither time nor treatment had a significant impact on these salivary parameters in cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Impact of CMT treatment on chemosensory functions can range from minimal to moderate impairment. Analysis of SLO, metals, and total protein do not provide for reliable measures of chemosensory dysfunctions over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taste and smell functions are relevant in health and diseases; study of salivary constituents may provide clues on the causes of their dysfunctions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirlohi
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide