To identify microbial biomarkers in saliva and tissue samples from patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) for potential non-invasive early detection of oral cancer, specifically focusing on the role of these biomarkers in diagnosis.
Key Findings:
Significant differences in microbial composition were found between cancer tissues, para-carcinoma tissues, and saliva from cancer patients compared to healthy individuals, highlighting their potential as early detection biomarkers.
Specific bacteria such as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Dietzia natronolimnaea, Burkholderia cepacia, and Acinetobacter baumannii were prevalent in cancer tissues, indicating their role in TSCC.
Weissella cibaria, Sphingomonas azotifigens, and Aeromonas sobria were more abundant in the saliva of TSCC patients, suggesting their utility in non-invasive screening.
Interpretation:
The identified microbial strains may serve as potential biomarkers for early detection of oral cancer, but findings are preliminary and require further validation.
Limitations:
Reliance on external healthy controls may affect the robustness of the findings.
Limited sample size necessitating further validation in larger cohorts.
Conclusion:
The study highlights microbial strains enriched in oral cancer tissues and saliva as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early detection, requiring validation in future studies with rigorously matched controls.
