Oral microbiome could impact pancreatic cancer risk
Oral microbes could be linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a news article from New York University Langone Health.
Previous studies have found that harmful oral bacteria can access the pancreas via swallowed saliva. In a recent study published in JAMA Oncology, researchers examined the saliva samples of more than 120,000 healthy male and female individuals who participated in the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial to better understand the connection between the oral microbiome and the risk of pancreatic cancer.
After a median follow-up of 8.8 years, the researchers identified 27 bacteria, fungi and periodontal pathogens associated with the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. For instance, the periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eubacterium nodatum and Parvimonas micra as well as fungi of the genus Candida were associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
The researchers hope the development of a new tool capable of profiling the bacteria and fungi populations present in the oral microbiome can help aid clinicians in identifying patients who may benefit from pancreatic cancer screening.
Read more: NYU Langone Health
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