Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) often recurs locally, reducing survival. The oral microbiome may influence tumor recurrence, but its prognostic role is unclear. This study investigated oral microb Show more
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) often recurs locally, reducing survival. The oral microbiome may influence tumor recurrence, but its prognostic role is unclear. This study investigated oral microbiomes associated with OSCC recurrence and their prognostic merit. Saliva samples were collected from 133 patients with OSCC. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed, and microbial signatures were predicted via XGBoost. Functional metagenomic prediction was conducted using PICRUSt2. XGBoost identified Oral saliva microbiome profiling reveals distinct microbial patterns associated with OSCC recurrence. Our correlation-based functional predictions indicated that the enrichment of Show less