Salivary DNA methylation derived estimates of biological aging, cellular frequency and protein expression as predictors of oral mucositis severity and survival in head and neck cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a painful and debilitating condition that occurs in the majority of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation and/or chemotherapy. While some patient and treatment related factors are known to contribute to the incidence and severity of disease, reliable biomarkers remain elusive. In the following study, we investigated the association of salivary DNA methylation derived biological aging, cellular frequency …