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Genetically predicted gut microbiome and risk of oral cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Mounting evidence suggests a possible link between gut microbiome and oral cancer, pointing to some potential modifiable targets for disease prevention. In the present study, Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to explore whether there was a causal link between gut microbiome and oral cancer.

Methods

The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with gut microbiome were served as instrumental variables. MR analyses were performed using genetic approaches such as inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR Egger and weighted median, with IVW as the primary approach, supplemented by MR Egger and weighted median. Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) and MR-Egger regression were used to detect the presence of horizontal pleiotropy and identify outlier SNPs.

Results

Causal effect estimates indicated that genetically predicted abundance of Prevotellaceae was associated with higher risk of oral cancer (odds ratio (OR) 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–2.81, p = 0.009). There was no evidence of notable heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusion

Genetically derived estimates suggest that Prevotellaceae may be associated with the risk of oral cancer. Such robust evidence should be given priority in future studies and explore the underlying mechanisms.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on request.

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Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Kun Xiang, Cheng-Xi Li, Ran Chen & Chun-Hui Zhao

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  1. Kun Xiang
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  2. Cheng-Xi Li
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  3. Ran Chen
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  4. Chun-Hui Zhao
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The first draft of the manuscript was written by KX. Analyses were performed by KX and CXL. RC and CHZ assisted in substantive revisions to the drafted manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ran Chen or Chun-Hui Zhao.

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Supplementary Information

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10552_2023_1800_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Supplementary file1 Fig. S1 Sensitivity analyses of the associations between Prevotellaceae and oral cancer (TIF 1621 KB)

Supplementary file2 (DOCX 97 KB)

Supplementary file3 (DOCX 47 KB)

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Xiang, K., Li, CX., Chen, R. et al. Genetically predicted gut microbiome and risk of oral cancer. Cancer Causes Control 35, 429–435 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-023-01800-0

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