Are oral microbes associated with the development of head and neck cancer? This study used data from three large, prospective epidemiologic studies in which patients provided oral samples. Oral fungal and bacterial microbiomes were characterized from whole genome sequencing. They identified 256 patients who developed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and these were matched to 458 controls from the cohorts. Overall microbiome diversity was not different between groups. Thirteen bacteria species were associated with the risk of HNSCC. No fungal species were associated with HNSCC risk. The red and orange periodontal pathogen complexes were also associated with increased HNSCC risk. While this study suggests a link between certain oral bacteria and HNSCC risk, it doesn’t tell us whether identification of these organisms could help screen for HNSCC or if interventions to eradicate them could lower risk. | Kwak, JAMA Oncol 2024
