Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39875747›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Oral microbiota in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy: a systematic review.

Deise Kwiatkowski, Lauren Frenzel Schuch, Natália Mincato Klaus, Manoela Domingues Martins, Juliana Balbinot Hilgert, Lina Naomi Hashizume

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Oral microbiota associated with radiation-related caries among nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients following radiation therapy: analysis based on a longitudinal study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  3. Assessment of the Advancement of Alveolar Bone Loss in Canine Patients Receiving Definitive Radiotherapy for Sinonasal Tumors.Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Deise KwiatkowskiDepartment of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-6673-2313
Lauren Frenzel SchuchDepartment of Diagnosis in Pathology and Oral Medicine, Molecular Pathology Area, School of Dentistry, Universidad de La Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3366-2177
Natália Mincato KlausDepartment of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7949-6971
Manoela Domingues MartinsDepartment of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8662-5965
Juliana Balbinot HilgertDepartment of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2204-1634
Lina Naomi HashizumeDepartment of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil. lhashizume@yahoo.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5477-2768

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeRadiotherapy (RT) in the head and neck (HN) area causes a series of oral complications and the oral microbiota may play an important role in these complications. The aim of this systematic review was to explore alterations in the oral microbiota among individuals undergoing RT in the HN region.

methodsA comprehensive search across six databases and grey literature was made. No limitations were imposed on language or publication year. Studies meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were considered for inclusion.

resultsTwenty-six articles met the criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. These studies varied in terms of radiation doses administered (ranging from 40 Gy to 82.60 Gy), microorganisms analyzed, locations within the oral cavity examined, and timing of assessments. Additionally, different methods of analysis were employed by the studies. Regarding oral microbiota changes, post-RT, there was significant increase in Candida species. Bacterial microbiota experienced increases, notably including Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) and Lactobacillus, with dynamic fluctuations.

conclusionRT in the HN region induces significant changes in oral microbiota, including increases in S. mutans, Lactobacillus and Candida species colonization, and decreases in beneficial bacteria such as Neisseria and Fusobacteria. These microbiota changes may contribute to oral complications post-RT, emphasizing the need for preventive measures and targeted therapies to manage oral health in HN cancer patients undergoing RT.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsMicrobiotaMouthHumansHead and neck cancerMicrobiomeMicrobiotaOral cancerRadiotherapySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39875747

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.