Bacteria and Fungi in Mouth Linked to Pancreatic Cancer Risk
Summary of the research on Oral Microbiome and Pancreatic Cancer (PC)
This research investigated the link between the oral microbiome (bacteria and fungi) and the risk of developing pancreatic cancer (PC). Here’s a breakdown of the key details:
Study Design & Participants:
* participants: 890 individuals (445 with PC and 445 matched controls) from the II Nutrition Cohort and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.
* Matching: Controls were carefully matched to PC cases based on several factors (cohort, age, sex, race/ethnicity, sample collection time) to minimize bias.
* Data Collection: August 2023 – September 2024
* analysis: august 2023 – January 2025
* Follow-up: Median follow-up of 8.8 years for PC development.
* Methods: Whole-genome shotgun sequencing (for bacteria) and ITS sequencing (for fungi) were used to profile the oral microbiome. Logistic regression and ANCOM-BC2 were used for statistical analysis.
Key Findings:
* Increased Risk – Bacterial Pathogens: Three periodontal pathogens were significantly associated with increased PC risk:
* Porphyromonas gingivalis (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03-1.57)
* Eubacterium nodatum (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.14-1.76)
* Parvimonas micra (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09-1.70)
* Increased Risk – Other Bacteria: Additionally, 8 other bacterial species (from Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Fusobacterium groups) were linked to increased risk.
* Decreased risk – Bacterial Species: 8 bacterial species were associated with decreased PC risk,including periodontal disease pathogens and species from Proteobacteria,Bacteroidetes,and Actinobacteria groups.
* Decreased risk - Fungal Species: Certain oral fungi were associated with a decreased risk of PC:
* Candida albicans (0.77-fold risk)
* Globosa Malassezia (0.84-fold risk)
In essence, the study suggests a complex relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer risk, with certain bacterial and fungal species perhaps playing a role in either promoting or protecting against the disease.