The newly-developed chewing gum has been bioengineered to reduce levels of harmful pathogens linked to head and neck cancer.
Researchers from the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have created a new chewing gum that significantly reduces levels of three microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer. The findings are published in Scientific Reports.
The gum is made from lablab beans, which contains a naturally antiviral protein called FRIL. When tested on patients with head and neck cancer, this protein reduced levels of human papilloma virus (HPV) by 93% in saliva and by 80% in oral rinse samples.
After adding protegrin, an antibacterial peptide, levels of harmful Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) bacteria were also reduced to near-zero while beneficial bacteria colonies remained intact.
In contrast, other antimicrobial treatments such as radiation therapy have been found to reduce helpful bacteria and increase disease-causing yeast populations.
Lead researcher Henry Daniell said: ‘The global increase in oropharyngeal cancer is linked to HPV infection. And Pg and Fn infections worsen survival rates of untreated recurrent or metastatic oral cancer, even after surgery and risk-adjusted adjuvant, or supplemental, therapies.’
The current picture of head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer mortality rates in the UK are projected to increase by 11% between 2024-2026 and 2038-2040, with around 6,700 deaths each year by 2038-2040, according to Cancer Research UK.
Daniell stressed that head and neck cancer is often aggressive and linked to poor outcomes, particularly when detected late. He also said that most recently approved cancer drugs have not significantly improved quality-of-life or five-year survival rates, highlighting a need for new treatments.
He continued: ‘Lip and oral cavity cancer was the seventh leading cancer type in cancer incidence and mortality rate worldwide in adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults in 2022.
‘Our findings support the value of advancing these therapies to clinical trials as adjuvants with current treatments or as prophylaxis to prevent infection and transmission.’
Henry Daniell declared a patent interest in plant-based oral drug delivery but stated no specific financial conflict of interest exists in relation to this study.
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
