New Study Links Mouth Bacteria to Stomach Cancer Risks
Recent research has found a potential link between bacteria in the mouth and gastric cancer. This study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, explored the connection between the gut microbiome (bacteria in the intestines) and the oral microbiome (bacteria in the mouth).
Conducted by a team from BGI Genomics in China, the study analyzed samples from 404 patients—some with gastric cancer and others with chronic gastritis. The researchers discovered differences in the gut microbes of those with gastric cancer, identifying 28 distinct species, many of which originated from oral bacteria like Streptococcus and Lactobacillus.
Interestingly, the study noted that 20 species of bacteria were found in both saliva and stool, indicating that bacteria can travel from the mouth to the gut. The close relationship between oral and gut bacteria suggests this transfer may be significant.
While the findings suggest that examining saliva and stool could reveal early signs related to stomach cancer, more research is needed before these methods can be used in medical practice. The researchers emphasized the crucial role of the connection between the mouth and gut microbiomes in the risk of gastric cancer.
Dr. Brian Slomovitz, a cancer expert from Mount Sinai Medical Center, highlighted the findings, explaining how bacteria from one body area might influence cancer development in another. He indicated that a healthy gut microbiome could help reduce the risk of inflammation and cancer.
The results offer insight into how stomach cancer may develop, especially since factors like H. pylori infection can create an inflammatory environment that allows harmful bacteria to thrive, potentially leading to cancer, even after H. pylori treatment.
The study’s implications could pave the way for using saliva testing in early detection of stomach cancer, even before the cancer forms.
Although the study cannot confirm that these bacteria directly cause cancer, the researchers noted a strong association. Future research could help determine if adjusting the microbiome could play a role in cancer treatment or prevention.
Experts agree that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is crucial for overall health and reducing cancer risks.
