Oral microbiome profiles in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer – A diagnostic perspective

Variations in the composition of the oral microbiome were identified across all study groups, and significant differences were noted in certain microbial taxa across normal, pre-cancer, and cancer. Certain bacterial taxa were detected only in OSCC. An increase in relative abundance of Gram-negative bacteria as well as an increasing trend in the abundance of periodontal taxa was observed in OSCC. This study generated a baseline data which may provide a guideline for future functional and integrative oral microbiome studies. Variations in oral microbiome composition may be used as biomarkers and provide signatures during the progression from normal to pre-cancer to cancer.