Attempts to Understand Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients through Omics Studies: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and clinically impactful side effect of cytotoxic cancer treatment, particularly in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who undergo radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy. The etiology and pathogenic mechanisms of OM are complex, multifaceted and elicit both direct and indirect damage to the mucosa. In this narrative review, we describe studies that use various omics methodologies (genomics, transcriptomics, microbiomics and metabolomics) in attempts to elucidate the biological pathways associated with the development or severity of OM. Integrating different omics into multi-omics approaches carries the potential to discover links among host factors (genomics), host responses (transcriptomics, metabolomics), and the local environment (microbiomics).

Keywords: genomics; head and neck cancer; microbiomics; oral mucositis; pain; transcriptomics.

Figure 1

Oral mucositis phenotype is heterogenous and known to vary by epidemiological clinical, and behavioral factors and molecular markers of risk. Word cloud showing frequency of appearance of terms related to oral mucositis based on the abstract of publications for oral mucositis.