Rates of pancreatic cancer among women under the age of 25 have risen by as much as 200% since 1990s, a worrying trend that has intensified concerns among oncologists as scientists uncover possible links between oral health and the deadly disease.
New research from the NYU School of Medicine suggests that bacteria and fungi living in the mouth may play a significant role in increasing the risk of pancreatic cancer, lending fresh urgency to efforts aimed at early detection and prevention.
Scientists believe harmful microbes originating in the mouth can travel through saliva and reach the pancreas, potentially triggering cancerous changes.
Writing in JAMA Oncology, Dr Richard Hayes, a population health expert and co-author of the study, said the findings strengthen the case for good oral hygiene.
“It is clearer than ever that brushing and flossing your teeth may not only help prevent periodontal disease but may also protect against cancer,” he said.
The study is the largest of its kind to examine the relationship between the oral microbiome, the community of bacteria and fungi living in the mouth and pancreatic cancer.
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Researchers analysed data from nearly 900 participants involved in two long-running US studies: the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study II and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.
At the outset, participants provided saliva samples after rinsing with mouthwash.
They were then followed for approximately nine years, during which researchers tracked the development of cancer. The bacterial and fungal DNA from 445 pancreatic cancer patients was compared with that of 445 cancer-free individuals.
After adjusting for known risk factors such as smoking, age and race, the researchers identified 24 species of bacteria and fungi that either significantly increased or reduced pancreatic cancer risk.
Notably, three of the harmful bacteria had already been linked to severe gum disease, while a type of yeast known as candida, commonly found in the body, was, for the first time, associated with pancreatic cancer.
Overall, the presence of these harmful microbes was linked to a more than threefold increase in cancer risk. By analysing an individual’s oral microbiome, researchers were also able to develop a model capable of estimating pancreatic cancer risk.
Professor Jiyoung Ahn, a co-author of the study, said the findings could eventually transform screening strategies.
“By profiling bacterial and fungal populations in the mouth, oncologists may be able to flag those most in need of pancreatic cancer screening,” she said.
However, researchers cautioned that the study shows correlation rather than direct cause and effect.
Further investigations are planned to explore whether oral viruses and other microbial factors influence cancer development or patient outcomes.
Pancreatic cancer is often described as a “silent killer” because its symptoms are subtle and easily mistaken for less serious conditions. It kills more than 10,000 people each year, around one death every hour and is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Survival rates remain poor: while around half of patients diagnosed early may live at least a year, only one in 10 survive once the disease has spread.
Although the cancer most commonly affects people over 75, recent data point to a disturbing rise among younger women.
While overall pancreatic cancer rates in Britain have increased by about 17% over the past three decades, the sharp rise in women under 25 remains unexplained, with no similar trend seen in men of the same age group.
Experts suspect a combination of factors, including obesity, smoking and environmental influences, may be contributing to the broader increase. Cancer Research UK estimates that smoking accounts for 22% of pancreatic cancer cases, while obesity is responsible for around 12%%.
Common symptoms include jaundice, itchy skin, dark urine, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite and persistent digestive problems. Health professionals advise that symptoms lasting more than four weeks should be checked by a GP.
Common symptoms include jaundice, itchy skin, dark urine, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite and persistent digestive problems. Health professionals advise that symptoms lasting more than four weeks should be checked by a GP.
As cases continue to rise and projections suggest record numbers by 2040, researchers say the growing understanding of the oral microbiome may offer a new frontier in tackling one of the world’s deadliest cancers.
