Antineoplastic therapy is an independent risk factor for dental caries in childhood cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study

Purpose To evaluate the antineoplastic therapy (AT) as a risk factor for dental caries lesions independent of other risk factors such as income, family education, stimulated salivary flow rate, hygiene habits, frequency of sugar intake, and microbiota in childhood cancer (CC) patients. Methods 72 individuals were divided into CC patients ( n =36) and healthy individuals (control group - CT n =36). Demographic data, hygiene habits, frequency of sugar intake, CC type, and AT were collected. Stimulated salivary flow rate was measured and the presence and concentration of Streptococcus mutans were assessed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. Clinical evaluations included plaque index (PI) and decayed-missing-filled-teeth index (dmft/DMFT). Descriptive statistics, T -test, Mann-Whitney test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and two-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis ( p