# Exploring the Relationship Between the Oral Microbiome and Fatigue in Individuals with Breast Cancer: A Longitudinal Study

> **NIH NIH F31** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $48,974

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Fatigue, the most distressing symptom, affects between 60-90% of all individuals with breast cancer. The
prevalence of fatigue increases to 80-96% when these individuals are receiving chemotherapy, a common
treatment modality. This high prevalence of fatigue is a concern for clinicians, patients, and their families as
fatigue is a debilitating symptom that interferes with the individual’s physical wellbeing, including their ability to
perform daily activities, and decreases social functioning. However, a lack of understanding of what causes
fatigue makes tailoring interventions to reduce fatigue difficult. Yet, while investigators have researched many
biological pathways in relation to fatigue, one mechanism that deserves further investigation is the oral
microbiome. Compelling evidence suggests that the microbiome influences symptoms such as fatigue and
physical well-being. Importantly, individuals with breast cancer have been found to have dissimilar oral
microbiomes to health controls, which are then further altered during chemotherapy. Additionally, studies on
individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome have suggested that the oral microbiome might play a role in the
development of fatigue. Given the high prevalence of fatigue experienced by individuals with breast cancer,
exploring this relationship between oral microbial changes, fatigue, and physical well-being is urgently needed.
Investigating the oral microbiome of individuals with breast cancer has the potential to inform our
understanding of the biological process of fatigue in a cancer that affects millions of individuals annually. The
objective of this longitudinal study is to inform our understanding of a biological mechanism associated with
fatigue and physical well-being and clarify the impact of chemotherapy on the oral microbiome in individuals
with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. This study will use data and biospecimens that have been
collected through the Duke University 1000 Patient Project (1KP). The 1KP project is an ongoing clinical data
repository in which patients, including individuals with breast cancer undergoing a mastectomy, are consented
for comprehensive data (demographics, disease, fatigue, and physical well-being) and biospecimen collection,
such as oral microbiome samples, at multiple timepoints pre and post operatively over the course of 6 months.
The aims are to: Aim 1. Characterize oral microbial changes (relative abundance, alpha diversity) prior to
chemotherapy and up to 6 subsequent months in 25 individuals with breast cancer. Aim 2. Explore whether
oral microbial changes (relative abundance, alpha diversity) are associated with fatigue and physical well-being
measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System in 25 individuals with breast
cancer receiving chemotherapy. Results from the proposed study will enhance the understanding of the
relationship between the oral microbiome and fatigue in individuals with b...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10993879
- **Project number:** 1F31CA294598-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Julia Slack
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $48,974
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10993879

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10993879, Exploring the Relationship Between the Oral Microbiome and Fatigue in Individuals with Breast Cancer: A Longitudinal Study (1F31CA294598-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10993879. Licensed CC0.

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