Gum Disease Linked to Rare, but Deadly, Mouth Cancer
Previous research has indicated that that poor oral health and hygiene can increase the risk of mouth cancer. Now, a small study has found evidence of a link between gum disease and the onset of a deadly form of mouth cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS).
Researchers writing in the Journal of Virology, Feb. 5, 2014, found that the growth of lesions and tumors associated with KS is stimulated by fatty acids created when gum disease is present. “These new findings provide one of the first looks at how periodontal bacteria create a unique microenvironment in the oral cavity that contributes to the development of KS,” says lead investigator in the study, Fengchun Ye, PhD, assistant professor in Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Biological Sciences.
Older adults vulnerable to KS. KS typically affects the skin and mouth, appearing as lesions that can grow into malignant tumors if they aren’t removed (rarely, it also can affect organs inside the body, including the lungs, liver, stomach, bowel, and lymph nodes). The main underlying cause of KS is a virus called human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV), since KS is most likely to occur in people with a weakened immune system who have the virus.
At risk are people with compromised immune systems—for example, people on medications to suppress organ transplant rejection, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, or older adults, whose immune systems naturally weaken with age.
While most people with HHV8 never get KS, Dr. Ye and his team reasoned that learning what protects these individuals might bring medical science one step closer to stopping KS in its tracks.
Good oral health is vital. The study included 21 patients: 11 had severe chronic gum disease; 10 had healthy gums, practiced good oral health and had no signs of bleeding or tooth loss from periodontal disease. The researchers studied a saliva sample from each participant, primarily looking at two bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, which occur in high levels in people with gum disease.
After initial tests, Dr. Ye and his team suspected that fatty acids present in the bacteria might affect the replication of KS. To confirm the theory, the fatty acids were introduced to cells with quiescent (non-replicating) KSHV in a petri dish. The virus began to replicate—and the process also set in motion a cascade of actions that inhibited immune system molecules from stopping the growth of KSHV.
The most important thing to come out of this study is that gum disease may be a risk factor for KS, and those who are at risk of this cancer should keep in mind the importance of good oral health, Dr. Ye says. The discovery also could lead to early saliva testing for the bacteria that contain the crucial fatty acids. Survival rates are higher when KS is detected and treated early in the lesion state than when a malignancy develops. “If the bacteria were found, the individual could be treated and monitored for signs of cancer before a malignancy develops,” Dr. Ye concludes.
The post Gum Disease Linked to Rare, but Deadly, Mouth Cancer appeared first on University Health News.
Read Original Article: Gum Disease Linked to Rare, but Deadly, Mouth Cancer »
Powered by WPeMatico
