Diversity analysis of gut and oral microbiome in oral cancer patients using metagenomic and meta-16S analysis

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19162
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Matsui Kensaku 広島大学, 病院(歯), 歯科診療医 (60826874)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔内細菌叢 / 腸内細菌叢 / 口腔癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We used the T-RFLP method to analyze the gut and oral microbiome of healthy subjects and oral cancer patients, and found that the microbiome differed between healthy subjects and oral cancer patients before the start of treatment. We also analyzed the long-term changes in the microbiome by collecting samples over time after the start of treatment. For the oral microbiome, meta-16s analysis using next-generation sequencers was conducted to find differences in the structure of the microbiome at the species level. As a result, we found that there were different species and structures of microbiome in healthy subjects and oral cancer patients.
Furthermore, we measured immune-related cells from the surplus of peripheral blood of the patients to examine the changes in immunocompetence over time before and after the start of treatment, and the influence of specific bacteria groups on the changes in immunocompetence.

Free Research Field

口腔癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

上述のように腸内細菌叢と免疫療法の治療効果について明らかにすることにより、口腔癌患者の治療期間中の腸内細菌叢および腫瘍部位である口腔細菌叢の状態や変動を明らかにし、これらの細菌叢の癌治療への影響を解明することは、プロバイオティクス/シンバイオティクスを用いた新規口腔癌治療の開発や、免疫力賦活化による治療成績の向上に寄与するものと期待される。