Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Cariogenic in Saliva of Oral and Laryngeal Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Clinical Study.

Context: Radiotherapy leads to radiation-induced caries. There is limited knowledge about the quantification of cariogenic bacteria in the saliva of irradiated cancer patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to check salivary pH, flow rate, and the assessment of in the saliva of irradiated oral and laryngeal cancer patients using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Settings And Design: This was time-bound study which consisted of 26 cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (13-oral cancer 13-laryngeal cancer).

Subjects And Methods: Resting saliva samples were gathered from oral (Group-I) and laryngeal (Group-II) cancer patients immediately before radiotherapy and after completion of radiotherapy (dose-60 Gy). pH of saliva and the salivary flow rate was measured. were analyzed using qRT PCR.

Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using SPSS software 20. Paired -test was used to evaluate salivary pH, flow rate, and amount of pre- and post-radiotherapy for Group I and II. Independent -test was used to compare salivary pH, flow rate, and pre- and post-radiotherapy between Group I and II.

Results: Salivary pH and flow rate significantly reduced postradiotherapy in oral and laryngeal cancer patients ( < 0.001). The amount of statistically increased postradiotherapy in oral cancer patients ( = 0.001). While count was statistically insignificant in laryngeal cancer patients ( = 0.091). There was a significant increase in the amount of in Group I when compared with Group II ( = 0.002).

Conclusion: Amount of increased postradiotherapy in oral cancer patients. While the salivary pH and salivary flow rate reduced postradiotherapy.