Identification of consensus head and neck cancer-associated microbiota signatures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 16S rRNA and The Cancer Microbiome Atlas datasets
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(Published version)
Date
2024
Authors
Yeo, K.
Li, R.
Wu, F.
Bouras, G.
Mai, L.T.H.
Smith, E.
Wormald, P.-J.
Valentine, R.
Psaltis, A.J.
Vreugde, S.
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Journal article
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Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2024; 73(2):001799-1-001799-18
Statement of Responsibility
Kenny Yeo, Runhao Li, Fangmeinuo Wu, George Bouras, Linh T.H. Mai, Eric Smith, Peter-John Wormald, Rowan Valentine, Alkis James Psaltis, Sarah Vreugde, and Kevin Fenix
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Abstract
Introduction. Multiple reports have attempted to describe the tumour microbiota in head and neck cancer (HNSC).Gap statement. However, these have failed to produce a consistent microbiota signature, which may undermine understanding the importance of bacterial-mediated effects in HNSC.Aim. The aim of this study is to consolidate these datasets and identify a consensus microbiota signature in HNSC.Methodology. We analysed 12 published HNSC 16S rRNA microbial datasets collected from cancer, cancer-adjacent and non-cancer tissues to generate a consensus microbiota signature. These signatures were then validated using The Cancer Microbiome Atlas (TCMA) database and correlated with the tumour microenvironment phenotypes and patient's clinical outcome.Results. We identified a consensus microbial signature at the genus level to differentiate between HNSC sample types, with cancer and cancer-adjacent tissues sharing more similarity than non-cancer tissues. Univariate analysis on 16S rRNA datasets identified significant differences in the abundance of 34 bacterial genera among the tissue types. Paired cancer and cancer-adjacent tissue analyses in 16S rRNA and TCMA datasets identified increased abundance in Fusobacterium in cancer tissues and decreased abundance of Atopobium, Rothia and Actinomyces in cancer-adjacent tissues. Furthermore, these bacteria were associated with different tumour microenvironment phenotypes. Notably, high Fusobacterium signature was associated with high neutrophil (r=0.37, P<0.0001), angiogenesis (r=0.38, P<0.0001) and granulocyte signatures (r=0.38, P<0.0001) and better overall patient survival [continuous: HR 0.8482, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.7758-0.9273, P=0.0003].Conclusion. Our meta-analysis demonstrates a consensus microbiota signature for HNSC, highlighting its potential importance in this disease.
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Dissertation Note
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Published 01 February 2024
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2024 The Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. This article was made open access via a Publish and Read agreement between the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.