Your future visits to the dentist might have you sitting in the chair longer and wishing you had taken the extra time to floss and brush your teeth. This is because dentists may be examining the plaque in your mouth for a specific type of bacteria that may be linked to cancer of the esophagus.
Image Source: The Clear Communication People, Flickr
A recent study illustrates that scientists have possibly found an association between a specific species of oral bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and esophageal cancer. Researchers found that in patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer, 61% contained this bacterial species. Within cancerous esophageal cells, they discovered a unique enzyme produced by P. gingivalis as well as bacterial DNA. With this discovery, researchers are hoping to use this bacterial species as a biomarker for esophageal cancer.
Although there are many types of esophageal cancer, P. gingivalis has been associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). ESCC occurs in the flat, thin cells lining the esophagus. These cells undergo uncontrolled growth and form malignant tumors. This results in the formation of a lump on the inner surface of the esophagus. The most common symptom of ESCC is difficulty swallowing, which can be extremely painful for individuals with this disease.
-Credit: Blausen Medical
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately 2,200 Canadians died from esophageal cancer in the past year. This is due in part to the fact that most cases of esophageal cancers are not detected until the later stages of cancer development.
Although researchers are optimistic about using this bacterial species as an early indicator for esophageal cancer, further studies need to be conducted. It is still unclear whether or not P. gingivalis prefers to live within cancerous esophageal cells, or whether this species of bacteria is responsible for the development of esophageal cancer. Researchers believe that if indeed this species of bacteria could cause ESCC, improved oral hygiene and antibiotics could be an effective treatment for ESCC. With this new correlation found between P. gingivalis and esophageal cancer, researchers are confident that early detection will decrease the mortality rate and increase chances of survival.
– Brian Infanti
