29/10/2025
A large cohort study of more than 122,000 people has revealed that the mix of bacteria and fungi living in the mouth may strongly influence the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Researchers found that certain periodontal pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Parvimonas micra, and Eubacterium nodatum, were linked to more than a threefold increase in cancer risk. In addition, the fungal genus Candida was also associated with heightened risk.
The team used advanced genome and fungal sequencing methods to go beyond earlier, smaller studies. Their analysis identified 27 species โ some protective and others harmful โ that together could be used to create a microbial risk score. People with higher scores were far more likely to later develop pancreatic cancer.
These findings suggest that oral microbiota may act as noninvasive, accessible biomarkers to flag individuals at elevated risk long before symptoms appear. If confirmed, this approach could allow earlier detection and more targeted prevention strategies against one of the deadliest cancers. For now, the study reinforces the importance of oral health while opening new possibilities for microbiome-based screening in the future.
Research Paper ๐
PMID: 27742762
