Table 1 Basic characteristics of OSCC patients at baseline and healthy controls

Sex^a, male (%)

54 (54%)

46 (46%)

NS

Mean age, years (SD)

68.0 (10.3)

66.4 (14.3)

NS

Smokers (%)

43 (43%)

8 (7.9%)

p = 1.6E-08

Alcohol-users (%)

62 (62%)

59 (59%)

NS

Edentate (%)

12 (12%)

5 (5.0%)

NS

Mean SFR ml/min (SD)

1.3 (0.9)

1.4 (0.8)

p = 0.036

 Dry mouth, SFR < 0.5 ml/min (%)

21 (21%)

14 (14%)

NS

Mean concentration of bacteria, 16S qPCR, ng/μl (SD)

3.5 (3.3)

3.0 (2.3)

NS

Candidiasis^b (%)

42 (42%)

40 (40%)

NS

 Mean Candida concentration, log10 (CFU/ml) (SD)

2.3 (1.2)

2.2 (1.2)

NS

 Mean concentration of fungi, 28S qPCR, ng/μl (SD)

0.007 (0.02)

0.003 (0.005)

NS

Tumor class^c

 T1 (%)

46 (46%)

 T2–T4 (%)

53 (53%)

Stage^c

 Stages I–II (%)

57 (57%)

 Stages III–IV (%)

42 (42%)

Treatment

 Radiotherapy-treated (%)

44 (44%)

 Chemotherapy-treated (%)

5 (5.1%)