Antibiotics, mouth microbes, and immune changes in throat (oropharyngeal) cancer
Immunological changes associated with antibiotic use in oropharyngeal cancer
This project looks at whether taking antibiotics changes mouth bacteria and immune responses in people with HPV-related oropharyngeal (throat) cancer and in HPV-positive women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Juan, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332610 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use animal models to compare how oral versus topical tetracycline (a common preoperative antibiotic) changes cancer treatment responses and the microbes and immune cells inside tumors. They will measure intratumoral microbial diversity and immune markers in those preclinical models. The team will also recruit women with high-risk HPV infection to provide saliva for immune cell profiling, cytokine testing, and microbiome (16S) sequencing, and will analyze existing banked saliva samples. Immune and microbial profiles will be compared between people who took antibiotics and those who did not.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer or women known to carry high-risk HPV who can provide saliva samples or share banked saliva.
Not a fit: People without HPV-related throat disease, those unwilling to provide saliva, or those not exposed to antibiotics are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help guide antibiotic use around throat cancer care by showing whether antibiotics harm protective immune responses in the mouth.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked antibiotics, gut microbiota, and worse cancer outcomes, but studying the oral microbiome and local immune effects in oropharyngeal cancer is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
San Juan, United States
- University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences — San Juan, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dorta-Estremera, Stephanie — University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
- Study coordinator: Dorta-Estremera, Stephanie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.