Oral microbiome linked to pancreatic cancer risk, NYU study finds
Researchers tie saliva microbes to higher pancreatic cancer risk; dental hygiene may play a broader role in cancer prevention, study says.
An NYU Langone Health study from its Perlmutter Cancer Center has linked imbalances in the mouth’s microbiome to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. An analysis of saliva samples from about 122,000 people followed for roughly nine years compared the DNA of bacteria and fungi in those who developed pancreatic cancer with those who did not, accounting for age, race and cigarette use.
The researchers identified 24 species of bacteria and fungi that moved risk up or down, and three other bacteria already linked to gum disease. The microbes hitch a ride in swallowed saliva to the pancreas, an organ essential for digestion and blood sugar regulation. The combined group of 27 microbes raised the chance of developing pancreatic cancer by more than threefold.
'Our findings provide new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer,' Meng said. Co-senior author Dr. Richard Hayes said, 'It is clearer than ever that brushing and flossing your teeth may not only help prevent periodontal disease but may also protect against cancer.' Jiyoung Ahn added, 'By profiling bacterial and fungal populations in the mouth, oncologists may be able to flag those most in need of pancreatic cancer screening.'
Pancreatic cancer is one of the world’s deadliest diseases largely because there are no effective early screening tests and early symptoms are vague, if present at all. The American Cancer Society estimates about 67,400 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, with roughly 52,000 deaths.
Published Thursday in JAMA Oncology, the NYU Langone team emphasized that the study shows association, not causation. More research is needed to establish a direct cause-and-effect link. The researchers plan to explore whether oral viruses contribute to cancer and how the mouth’s microbiome may influence patients’ chances of survival.
These results underscore the potential link between oral health and systemic disease and suggest that dental hygiene might have broader health implications.