A new study suggests that the journey of oral bacteria to the gut may play a critical role in the development of gastric cancer.
A study published in Cell Reports Medicine has identified a significant link between oral bacteria, gut microbes, and gastric cancer. Researchers from BGI Genomics analyzed 404 samples from Chinese patients with either gastric cancer or chronic gastritis.
They found 28 gut microbial species that differed in gastric cancer patients. Most of these were oral bacteria, specifically Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and other lactic acid bacteria. Notably, twenty of these oral-gut species were found in both saliva and stool samples and were more common in the gut of gastric cancer patients, suggesting transmission from mouth to gut.
Genetic comparisons further supported this, showing that oral bacteria closely matched gut bacteria within the same individuals. The authors concluded that the oral-gut microbiome axis plays a critical role in gastric cancer.
Limitations
- The study is cross-sectional; thus, it cannot prove causation.
- More research is needed before clinical use for screening.
Expert Comments
Dr. Brian Slomovitz (Mount Sinai Medical Center) noted the study demonstrates microbiome migration may affect cancer development. He suggested the findings may eventually lead to early detection using saliva but are not ready for clinical practice.
Dr. Marc Siegel (Fox News) commented on the correlation between gut microbiome and disease risk, emphasizing the importance of a healthy gut microbiome to reduce inflammation and cancer risk.