More than a dozen bacterial species among the hundreds that live in people’s mouths have been linked to a collective 50 per cent increased chance of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a new US study shows. Some of these microbes have previously been shown to contribute to periodontal disease.
Experts have long observed that those with poor oral health are statistically more vulnerable than those with healthier mouths to HNSCC, a group that includes the most common cancers of the mouth and throat. While small studies have tied some bacteria in these regions to the cancers, the exact bacterial types most involved has until now remained unclear.
Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, the new analyses looked at the genetic make-up of oral microbes collected from healthy men and women. Of the hundreds of different bacteria that are routinely found in the mouth, 13 species were shown to either raise or lower risk of HNSCC.
Overall, this group was linked to a 30 per cent greater likelihood of developing the cancers. In combination with five other species that are often seen in gum disease, the overall risk was increased by 50 per cent.
“Our findings offer new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and head and neck cancers,” study lead author Dr Soyoung Kwak said.
“These bacteria may serve as biomarkers for experts to flag those at high risk.”
The findings are published in JAMA Oncology.
