Evidence mapPaperPMID 41379255Full record

ReviewArchives of microbiology2025

Microbial dysbiosis and host-microbe interactions in proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: insights into carcinogenic potential.

Bruno Špiljak, Petar Ozretić, Vlaho Brailo, Ivana Škrinjar, Božana Lončar Brzak, Ana Andabak Rogulj, Iva Butić, Arjana Tambić Andrašević, Danica Vidović Juras

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Archives of microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Bruno ŠpiljakDepartment of Oral Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2545-4474
Petar OzretićLaboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9757-6636
Vlaho BrailoDepartment of Oral Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8449-871X
Ivana ŠkrinjarDepartment of Oral Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8076-7591
Božana Lončar BrzakDepartment of Oral Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6096-6796
Ana Andabak RoguljDepartment of Oral Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8369-1024
Iva ButićUniversity Hospital for Infectious Diseases, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5542-9192
Arjana Tambić AndraševićUniversity Hospital for Infectious Diseases, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6232-1465
Danica Vidović JurasDepartment of Oral Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia. djuras@sfzg.unizg.hr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7391-6114

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a rare and aggressive oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) characterized by multifocal keratotic plaques, progressive expansion, high recurrence, and a strong risk of malignant transformation. Although its etiology remains unclear, recent evidence emphasizes the role of the oral microbiome as a key factor in disease progression. Alterations in microbial diversity and ecological balance create a shift toward dysbiosis, supporting a chronic inflammatory microenvironment that favors epithelial transformation. Specific taxa, including Fusobacterium and Porphyromonas, have been implicated in biofilm formation, immune evasion, and modulation of epithelial signaling pathways. These interactions highlight the potential of microbial communities to drive oncogenic processes through host-microbe crosstalk. Advanced methodological approaches such as metagenomics, functional microbiome profiling, and multi-omics integration provide novel opportunities to unravel the mechanisms of dysbiosis in PVL. Beyond pathogenesis, microbiome research opens perspectives for the identification of predictive biomarkers, targeted prevention, and microbiome-based therapeutics. This review synthesizes current insights into the microbial basis of PVL and outlines future directions aimed at improving understanding of host-microbe interactions and their role in oral carcinogenesis. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed and Web of Science searches (1985-2025) using terms related to PVL, oral leukoplakia, OPMD, oral microbiome, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, current evidence suggests that while microbial dysbiosis is not an isolated driver, it likely synergizes with genetic, epigenetic, and immunological factors in PVL progression, offering opportunities for biomarker discovery and novel therapeutic strategies. This study also provides a potential direction for the early diagnosis of PVL and the development of microecologically targeted interventions.

Indexed as

DysbiosisHost Microbial InteractionsLeukoplakia, OralCarcinogenesisHumansMicrobiotaMouth NeoplasmsCarcinogenesisHost–microbe interactionsMicrobial dysbiosisOral microbiomeOral potentially malignant disordersProliferative verrucous leukoplakia

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.