Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study

Abstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, and changes in microflora have a close relationship with tumor development. In this study, we tried to identify the changes in oral microbial characteristics and metabolite levels in OSCC patient...

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Main Authors: Kaitong Wei, Yaqing Ma, Jing Xu, Hongyu Zheng, Lianping Xue, Yaojuan Chu, Yingying Shi, Zhi Sun, Qiang Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13680-5
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author Kaitong Wei
Yaqing Ma
Jing Xu
Hongyu Zheng
Lianping Xue
Yaojuan Chu
Yingying Shi
Zhi Sun
Qiang Sun
author_facet Kaitong Wei
Yaqing Ma
Jing Xu
Hongyu Zheng
Lianping Xue
Yaojuan Chu
Yingying Shi
Zhi Sun
Qiang Sun
author_sort Kaitong Wei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, and changes in microflora have a close relationship with tumor development. In this study, we tried to identify the changes in oral microbial characteristics and metabolite levels in OSCC patients. Methods In this study, saliva samples were collected from 40 oral cancer cases and 39 healthy controls. The microbiome was analysed by 16 S rDNA gene sequencing, and the metabolome was detected by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) with metabolite traceability using the Metorigin platform. Correlations between the microbiome and metabolome were analysed using the Spearman correlation method. Results The study found a significant difference in the β diversity of oral microbiota between the oral cancer group and healthy controls, while α diversity showed no significant difference. At the phylum level, Deferribacterota significantly increased, and Cyanobacteria significantly decreased in the oral cancer group. At the genus level, Vibrio and Lactococcus were significantly elevated, while Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium were significantly reduced. Metabolomic analysis identified 36 differentially abundant metabolites; 13(S)-HOTrE and 13-HODE were significantly downregulated, while docosanamide was significantly upregulated in the oral cancer group. Six bacteria-specific metabolites, including Indole, were also downregulated. Correlation analysis showed that N-Acetylneuraminic acid had a significant negative correlation with Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio (r < -0.4). Conclusion This study found large differences in microbiome levels at the portal level, at the genus level, and significant differences in the levels of a variety of metabolites labeled by indoles, providing a new and potentially valuable direction for the diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous carcinoma.
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spelling doaj-art-e28b5ae0921e490fb8a25bd0bb1431e82025-08-20T03:04:51ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-04-0125111710.1186/s12885-025-13680-5Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary studyKaitong Wei0Yaqing Ma1Jing Xu2Hongyu Zheng3Lianping Xue4Yaojuan Chu5Yingying Shi6Zhi Sun7Qiang Sun8Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityAbstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, and changes in microflora have a close relationship with tumor development. In this study, we tried to identify the changes in oral microbial characteristics and metabolite levels in OSCC patients. Methods In this study, saliva samples were collected from 40 oral cancer cases and 39 healthy controls. The microbiome was analysed by 16 S rDNA gene sequencing, and the metabolome was detected by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) with metabolite traceability using the Metorigin platform. Correlations between the microbiome and metabolome were analysed using the Spearman correlation method. Results The study found a significant difference in the β diversity of oral microbiota between the oral cancer group and healthy controls, while α diversity showed no significant difference. At the phylum level, Deferribacterota significantly increased, and Cyanobacteria significantly decreased in the oral cancer group. At the genus level, Vibrio and Lactococcus were significantly elevated, while Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium were significantly reduced. Metabolomic analysis identified 36 differentially abundant metabolites; 13(S)-HOTrE and 13-HODE were significantly downregulated, while docosanamide was significantly upregulated in the oral cancer group. Six bacteria-specific metabolites, including Indole, were also downregulated. Correlation analysis showed that N-Acetylneuraminic acid had a significant negative correlation with Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio (r < -0.4). Conclusion This study found large differences in microbiome levels at the portal level, at the genus level, and significant differences in the levels of a variety of metabolites labeled by indoles, providing a new and potentially valuable direction for the diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous carcinoma.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13680-5Oral squamous cell carcinomaMicrobiomeMetabolitesDiagnostic markersOral microenvironment
spellingShingle Kaitong Wei
Yaqing Ma
Jing Xu
Hongyu Zheng
Lianping Xue
Yaojuan Chu
Yingying Shi
Zhi Sun
Qiang Sun
Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study
BMC Cancer
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Microbiome
Metabolites
Diagnostic markers
Oral microenvironment
title Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study
title_full Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study
title_fullStr Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study
title_full_unstemmed Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study
title_short Potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer: a preliminary study
title_sort potential changes in microorganisms and metabolites associated with oral cancer a preliminary study
topic Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Microbiome
Metabolites
Diagnostic markers
Oral microenvironment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13680-5
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