Distinct shifts in the oral microbiota are associated with the progression and aggravation of mucositis during radiotherapy

Oral mucositis remains one of the most common complications of radiation therapy for patients with head and neck cancer. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic shifts in the oral mucosal microbiota and their association with the progression and aggravation of mucositis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing radiotherapy.In this study, oropharyngeal mucosa of patients were examined regularly, and sampled longitudinally in...