Study on Chemotherapy Agents in Saliva through Spectrometry and Chromatography Methods Correlated with Periodontal Status in Oncology Patients

Background: Determining chemotherapy drug levels in saliva through spectrometry may offer useful information without additional risks. The objectives of this study were to quantify chemotherapy agents in the saliva of oncology patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy treatment and evaluate the oral and periodontal clinical modifications and possible correlations between them.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 29 patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment with cisplatin, oxaliplatin, or gemcitabine. Three total saliva samples were gathered from each patient in three key points regarding chemotherapy. The samples were then analyzed through methods of mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography.

Results: Cisplatin and gemcitabine were only found in saliva at 30 min and 2 hrs after chemotherapy administration, however, oxaliplatin was determined in all three samples. Clinically, the most accentuated clinical attachment loss and CPITN scores were observed on mandibular teeth, whereas the highest values for the Sillness and Loe gingival index and gingival bleeding index were in the lateral maxillary areas. We found no statistically significant correlation between the periodontal parameters and chemotherapy concentration in saliva.

Conclusion: A fraction of systemically administered chemotherapy can also be found in the saliva of oncology patients and have the potential to exacerbate oral infections and cause local and systemic complications throughout the oncology treatment. Further research is required to fully understand how chemotherapy can influence the development of periodontal disease.