In a move that has changed our understanding of one of the most deadly types of cancer, a wide -ranging study conducted by scientists from the University of New York Medical College revealed amazing links between oral health and oral microbium and the risk of pancreatic cancer, known as the “silent killer” because it spreads without clear symptoms in most cases, which causes it to be diagnosed often in late stages where the chances of survival are minimal.
The study was published in Jama ONCOLOGY, which is the largest achievement of its kind, as it included a genetic analysis of salivary samples of more than 122 thousand healthy people, in addition to studying lifestyle factors such as smoking and medical history such as chronic infections in the gums, where researchers found that 27 types of bacteria and fungi in the mouth are linked to an increase in the risk of cancer by up to 3.5 times, which indicates that this is this Microorganisms may be transmitted through saliva to the pancreas, contributing to the development of the tumor.
What is pancreatic cancer?
The fourth pancreas cancer is globally in the causes of cancer deaths, as it kills more than 500,000 people annually, according to the World Health Organization, and in the United States alone, about 64 thousand new cases each year, and the rate of survival for a period of five years does not exceed 12%, compared to 90% in breast cancer, for example.
This is due to the difficulty of early detection; Symptoms such as abdominal pain or weight loss appear late, and there are no effective routine tests such as those used in colon cancer, and for decades, research focused on traditional risk factors such as smoking (carries 20-30% risks higher), obesity, type 2 diabetes, and family history, but this new study, in which experts from the National Cancer Institute and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine participated, adding a new layer which is it The role of oral microbium.
Global warning to clean the teeth
The study quoted Dr. Richard Hayes, one of the participating authors and population health expert, “It has become more clear than ever that cleaning teeth and annual thread not only protects gum disease, but may also reduce the risk of cancer,” the study quoted Dr. Richard Hayes, one of the participating authors and population health expert.
The team used data from large longitudinal studies, including a genomic analysis of bacteria in saliva, to determine the patterns associated with the infection of the cancer, and discovered that certain types of bacteria associated with chronic gingivitis (such as those that cause gum infections) increases the danger significantly, especially when combining with lifestyle such as smoking or medical history that includes diabetes.
This link is partially explained by the sudden increase in cases of injury among young women, as a similar rise in men in the same age group is not observed, as the study is not just a statistical analysis; It has led to the development of a predictive assessment tool based on oral microbium composition, which doctors can use to identify high -risk patients and direct them towards early tests such as ultrasound or blood analysis.
This discovery is a gateway to simple preventive strategies, such as improving oral hygiene as part of public health programs, however, the researchers assert that the study focuses on connections, not direct causal, and calls for more clinical trials to confirm the results, in light of the high global infection rates, this study may be a key to saving thousands of lives, converting the “silent killer” to a goal that can be addressed early.
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