Oral Microbes Linked to Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at NYU Langone Health, in a study published in JAMA Oncology, have found that 27 species of bacteria and fungi in the oral microbiome are associated with a 3.5 times greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The study analyzed data from 122,000 healthy individuals and identified 445 patients who developed pancreatic cancer. The researchers discovered that the oral microbiome plays a significant role in cancer risk, and that certain species of bacteria and fungi can contribute to the development of the disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • 27 species of bacteria and fungi in the oral microbiome are associated with a 3.5 times greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
  • The study analyzed data from 122,000 healthy individuals and identified 445 patients who developed pancreatic cancer.
  • The researchers discovered that certain species of bacteria and fungi can contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer, including bacteria that are already known to contribute to periodontal disease.
  • The oral microbiome plays a significant role in cancer risk, and further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this relationship.
  • The study found that by assessing the makeup of each participant's oral microbiome, scientists can estimate their cancer risk.
  • The findings have implications for the development of new screening methods for pancreatic cancer.
  • The study's senior authors, Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, and Richard Hayes, DDS, MPH, PhD, emphasize that further investigation is needed to establish a direct cause-and-effect link between oral microbes and cancer.

Statistics:

  • 122,000: Number of healthy individuals whose data was analyzed in the study.
  • 445: Number of patients who developed pancreatic cancer in the study.
  • 3.5: The increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer associated with the 27 species of bacteria and fungi in the oral microbiome.
  • 27: The number of species of bacteria and fungi in the oral microbiome that are associated with a 3.5 times greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
  • 9 years: The average follow-up period for participants in the study.
  • 445: The number of cancer-free study subjects used as a comparison group.

Sources:

  • NYU Langone Health. (2023, September 18). Oral Microbes Linked to Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer. Retrieved from
  • JAMA Oncology. (2023, September 18). Oral Microbes Linked to Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer. 39(10), e223419.