Role of Human Microbiome in Head and Neck Cancer
University of Colorado, Denver
Summary
This study aims to determine whether dysbiosis actively contributes to HNSCC and if so, the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Description
HNSCCis a lethal cancer with a 5-year survival rate below 50%. Although smoking, alcohol intake, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are linked to HNSCC, only a small proportion of individuals exposed to these factors develop cancer and not all cases progress. Thus, additional environmental or host factors must contribute to HNSCC. The Study Team and others have observed significant oral dysbiosis in human HNSCC cases, both before and after treatment. This study aims to determine whether dysbiosis actively contributes to HNSCC and if so, the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not specified
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects equal to or above the age of 18. 2. Patients who are seen and evaluated by a provider within the adult Otolaryngology clinic at the University of Colorado Health. 3. Patients that present with a diagnosis of OSCC. 4. An equal number of age-matched patients who are visiting the clinic for reasons other than OSCC diagnoses, as the control group. 5. Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects under the age of 18 or over the age of 100 2. Subjects unwilling to particiapte
Interventions
- Diagnostic TestMetagenomic sequencing
Shotgun metagenomic sequencing will characterize cancer-associated changes in microbial functional capacity and species/strain-level taxonomic profiles. Metagenomics will provide data on microbial functional capacity along with broader taxonomic classifications.
- Diagnostic TestMetabolic analysis
Metabolic analysis will be conducted using LC/MS-based metabolic analysis. A targeted approach will quantify a panel of 30 compounds including Trp pathway products while a non-targeted approach, when applied to both lipid and aqueous phase compounds, will profile relative changes in compounds that may influence host
Location
- University of Colorado Cancer CenterAurora, Colorado