Posted on 09/19/2025 3:18:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A microbial risk score could help identify people at greater risk
Key Takeaways
Oral bacteria and fungi may help reshape the pancreatic microbiome and promote carcinogenesis.
Earlier research has connected periodontal disease and clinical candidiasis with greater pancreatic cancer risk.
Altogether, the study identified a more than threefold increase in cancer risk for every one standard deviation rise in a microbial risk score comprised of 27 bacteria and fungi.
More than two dozen bacteria and fungi in the mouth may be linked to pancreatic cancer risk, according to an analysis of two large cohorts.
Analysis of oral-wash samples from over 120,000 people revealed three bacterial pathogens behind periodontal disease, 21 other bacterial species, and four fungi associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer, said Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, of New York University in New York City, and colleagues.
A microbial risk score (MRS) that combined 27 bacteria and fungi was linked to a 3.44-fold increase (95% CI 2.63-4.51) in cancer risk for every one standard deviation rise in the MRS, they noted in JAMA Oncology.
"This could serve as an important risk-stratification tool in healthy populations," Ahn told MedPage Today. "If validated, oral microbiome profiling could serve as a noninvasive biomarker to identify individuals at elevated risk who might benefit from enhanced surveillance -- which is especially important given the lack of effective early detection methods for pancreatic cancer."
The findings strengthen earlier research that already connects periodontal disease, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, and clinical candidiasis with greater pancreatic cancer risk.
"Our findings suggest that maintaining good oral hygiene -- through regular brushing, flossing, and dental care -- is critical," Ahn added. "This is a modifiable factor for pancreatic cancer prevention."
At least three periodontal disease pathogens were linked to greater pancreatic cancer risk, including Porphyromonas gingivalis (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03-1.57), Eubacterium nodatum (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.14-1.76), and Parvimonas micra (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09-1.70). Also associated with greater risk were six Actinobacteria species, three Bacteroidetes species, three Firmicutes species, and one Fusobacterium species.
Increased presence of Candida, the most common fungal genus, was significantly linked with greater pancreatic cancer risk (1.58-fold, 95% CI 1.05-2.38), including Candida tropicalis (1.43-fold, 95% CI 1.00-2.03) and unspecified Candida (1.34-fold, 95% CI 1.05-1.70). Candida's link to pancreatic cancer was stronger in people with a history of tobacco use, but body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, and diabetes didn't boost the association.
BMI, smoking history, alcohol use, or diabetes also had no substantial effect on the link between the MRS and pancreatic cancer.
Some oral bacteria and fungi were linked with reduced pancreatic cancer risk, including six periodontal disease pathogens and three Proteobacteria species, two Bacteroidetes species, and two Actinobacteria species. Oral fungi such as Candida albicans (0.77-fold, 95% CI 0.62-0.96) and Malassezia globosa (0.84-fold, 95% CI 0.73-0.98) were associated with lower risk of pancreatic cancer.
"Emerging evidence systematically links oral pathogens to pancreatic carcinogenesis, suggesting that poor oral health may be causally related to pancreatic cancer development," Ahn and colleagues said.
Pathogens such as P. gingivalis have been found in pancreatic cancer, and some of the oral bacteria identified in the study are linked with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism dysfunction. When oral microbes migrate from the oral cavity to the pancreas, they may play a role in reshaping the pancreatic microbiome and promoting carcinogenesis.
Those oral visitors can then help keep cancer going. Their ongoing pancreatic presence can cause "dysbiosis that releases microbial toxins and metabolites, promoting pancreatic tumorigenesis by triggering an innate immune response and thereby affecting phagocytic potential and inflammatory processes," Ahn and colleagues explained.
For the study, researchers collected oral wash samples from 70,000 people in the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort and 52,000 people in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.
Of these, 445 people who developed pancreatic cancer over a median of 8.8 years were matched with 445 controls. Of those 890 people, 47% were female, 92% were white, and the average age was 67 years. Those with pancreatic cancer were more likely than controls to smoke, drink alcohol, or have a family history of pancreatic cancer. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the diversity of oral bacteria or overall microbiome composition.
Limitations included the study's observational design, which could allow confounding by unmeasured factors. Incomplete microbiome reference databases may have limited findings of risk-raising fungi. Finally, the study population's large percentage of white participants may limit the findings' generalizability.
Terrence Rudd
Terrence Rudd is a staff writer at MedPage Today, covering the infectious diseases beat. He has been a medical writer and editor for more than 30 years.
Ping
But definitely NOT the fauxinne....no no no. PIVOT
Bad dental hygiene for sure!
“”Our findings suggest that maintaining good oral hygiene — through regular brushing, flossing, and dental care — is critical,” Ahn added. “This is a modifiable factor for pancreatic cancer prevention.””
Key takeaway. This is a good idea anyway.
Bfl
The people around you and your loved ones all agree — good oral hygiene through regular brushing, flossing, and dental care is a good thing. Your health will thank you.
I used turkey hunt with a dentist.
Our late night beer talks opened my mind.
Heart health especially is influenced by oral bacteria and enzymes.
This story is not a surprise.
Brush and floss daily.
I highly recommend the stainless steel tongue scraper, a lot of gross stuff clings to your tongue.
Then pancreatic cancer would be rampant among the British citizenry.
I use a plastic one with a wide, short-bristle brush.
I had a bout of oral thrush (an oral candida yeast overgrowth infection) earlier this year. Yuck, bad stuff. Brushing the tongue is a key to restoring oral balance.
Morning and evening gargle, swish and swallow with Colloidal silver , 20 PPM has had many of my dentists over the years amazed at my lack of plaque and excellent gum condition. Been at it over 20 years.
Bkmk
Are these different from the ones causing Alzheimers? This is beginning to look like the great trace metal chase of the ‘70’s.
That’s it! I’m getting a mouthecotomy!
I am sitting here shaking my head. My wife brushes and flosses after every meal. It can be tedious when on a trip.
She got PC.
I guess her mouth wasn’t the cause. LOL
(She has been cancer free for 6 years now.)
Good to hear she is cancer free and good wishes for continued good health.
“I had a bout of oral thrush (an oral candida yeast overgrowth infection) earlier this year. “
I’m dealing with my second bout in 3 months . First started before I was diagnosed with nocardiosis which I was hospitalized for and haven’t fully recovered from yet . 2nd bout started earlier this week . Had a Dr’s appt. yesterday and told him about it . Once again he prescribed a bottle of Fungizone syrup . I brush , floss and gargle after every meal and see a dentist regularly . Unsure of cause of the oral thrush . Weakened immunhttps://www.rad-ar.or.jp/siori/english/search/result?n=47294e system from the nocardia ? Antibiotics side effect ?
I sympathize. It’s bad with changes in taste and tongue tingly sensation. Not the end of the world, but really annoying. My doc prescribed Nystatin Oral Suspension, but it didn’t seem to do a thing. I had Hep B 50 years ago and the docs are worried about any anti-fungal medicine degrading my liver, so that’s out.
I have had three bouts of COVID, most recent summer 2024, and the last bout led to a bunch of immune system problems. It provoked pulmonary embolisms! I never had blood clots in my life. I wonder if there might be a connection of the thrush to COVID-caused immune problems.
I just really stepped up brushing and scrubbing my tongue and that seems to have resolved it.
I never heard of nocardiosis before so just looked it up. Sounds like a nasty and rare opportunistic infection. Like you said it can attack immunocompromised individuals.
I hope you lick all these things!
They’re protected - all that beans on toast.
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