Gut microbiome predicts toxicity outcomes from chemoradiation therapy in HNSCC

Chemoradiation (CRT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is associated with significant toxicities, including oral mucositis. The gut microbiome is a hallmark of cancer that may be an important biomarker for development of these adverse events. This study investigated the gut microbiome composition as a biomarker for predicting CRT toxicities in HNSCC, especially oral mucositis.