
Disruptions to the oral microbiome including the presence of a common bacteria have been linked to the development of mouth cancer by a new study.
Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common bacteria often found in the mouth. Published in the International Journal of Oral Science, the study found an association between the presence of this pathogen and the development of oral cancer.
Researchers identified an interaction between the bacteria and host cells in the body that promotes tumour growth and progression. This contributes to the development oral squamous cell carcinoma.
The study’s authors said identifying ‘important metabolic pathways’ could lead to ‘more effective treatment strategies’. They hoped the research would prompt better outcomes for those suffering from aggressive oral cancer.
They said: ‘Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains one of the most prevalent and aggressive forms of oral cancer, with a notoriously poor prognosis. While risk factors like tobacco use and alcohol consumption have long been established, an emerging body of research highlights the significant role of the oral microbiota in cancer progression.’
Lead researcher Estefanía Nova-Lamperti highlighted the significance of the findings. She said: ‘Understanding the intricate interactions between oral bacteria and cancer cells is essential for advancing our approach to cancer treatment. Our study on Fusobacterium nucleatum provides a deeper understanding of how the oral microbiome influences OSCC progression, offering new potential for targeted therapies.
‘By focusing on specific metabolic pathways, we can work to inhibit cancer progression and improve patient outcomes. This research underscores the need to integrate microbiome factors into cancer biology and treatment strategies.’
Researchers added that the study reinforces the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent dysbiosis that could lead to cancer.
Mouth cancer across the UK
Newly-released data shows that dentists in Scotland made more than 1,000 cancer referrals in 2023-4.
Scottish Labour spokesperson Paul Sweeney said: ‘‘Dentist checks have a life-saving role to play in the screening programmes that help us identify cancer early and treat it.
‘There are too many cases of late cancer diagnosis and delays in starting treatment that are causing preventable and premature deaths. This is why it’s all the more worrying that one in three Scots are struggling to access dentists, especially in the poorest areas.’
This comes as annual cases of mouth cancer diagnosed in the UK have risen to more than 10,000. The figure of 10,825 shared in the Oral Health Foundation’s State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2024 had risen from 8,864 the previous year.
UK mouth cancer diagnoses have increased by 38% in the past decade and 133% in the last 20 years. Mouth cancer now accounts for just over 2% of all cancers, the 10th most common form in the UK. This rises to ninth in men alone, with two thirds of oral cancer cases occurring in men.
Scotland has a greater incidence of mouth cancer compared to the rest of the UK, at 19.2 cases per 100,000 people. Levels are lowest in Northern Ireland (13 cases per 100,000).
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