Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progresses rapidly and is characterized by a high rate of 
mortality. Like other cancers, the number of risk factors include chemical exposure, diet, heredity and age; however, even with clear risk factors, it is still difficult to diagnose this cancer early.
A team of researchers from University of Louisville School of Dentistry have made a surprising causal discovery in which they observed that a bacteria found in the mouth, Porphyromonas gingivalis, is present in 61 percent of the cancerous tissues in patients with ESCC.
The possible implications if this is proven in larger randomized trials are profound. This finding suggests that P. gingivalis infection could be a novel risk factor for ESCC and may also serve as a biomarker that would help this type of cancer be detected early on.
This finding would suggest that improving oral hygiene may reduce ESCC risk and that screening for P. gingivalis in dental plaque may identify susceptible subjects.
There are two likely explanations: Either the cancer cells prefer an environment rich in P. gingivalis to thrive or the bacteria facilitates the development of esophageal cancer. If the former is true, simple antibiotics may prove useful or researchers can develop other therapeutic approaches for esophageal cancer utilizing genetic technology to target the P. gingivalis and ultimately destroy the cancer cells.
It should be remembered that at this point only a causal relationship has been suggested in this study, and there are still a lot more studies needed to be done to prove that P. gingivalis can cause ESCC.
Source: Jonathan Richter, DDS, FAGD, of Cardiodontal (310 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 101, Great Neck). For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-282-0310.
