title: Salivary BPIFA1 (SPLUNC1) and BPIFA2 (SPLUNC2 A) are modified by head and neck cancer radiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of radiotherapy on salivary BPIFA expression and to investigate the role of BPIFA in the development of known radiotherapy side effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unstimulated whole-mouth saliva was collected from 45 cancer patients (1 week before treatment, during the treatment, and 1 week after completion of radiotherapy) and from 20 controls. BPIFA1 and BPIFA2 expression was detected by western blotting and analyzed along with clinicopathologic data and side effects from the radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A facial radiation field was associated with lower salivary flow during and after radiotherapy and correlated with side effects, mainly mucositis. Salivary BPIFA1 expression levels were similar between the control group and the patient group before treatment. On the other hand, BPIFA2 levels were higher in the patient group before treatment compared with the control group. BPIFA concentration was modified by radiotherapy as BPIFA1 levels increased (P = .0081) and BPIFA2 decreased (P < .0001). Higher levels of BPIFA1 were associated with the presence of mucositis (P = .0363) and its severity (P = .0500).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study found that levels of BPIFA1 and glycosylated forms of BPIFA2 are affected by radiotherapy, suggesting that these proteins may play a role in the oral microenvironment in irradiated patients with head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Oral Pathology and Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Wilfredo Alejandro
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: González-Arriagada
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lara Maria Alencar
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreia Aparecida
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pablo Agustin
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Della
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Coletta
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, U.K.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bingle
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: Malopes@fop.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Marcio Ajudarte
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C485599:BPIFA1 protein, human; C045623:BPIFA2 protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides