Common bacterial species found in human mouths one day may be used as diagnostic markers for oral cancer, said researchers in a presentation at the American Association for Dental Research’s annual meeting.
Researchers at the Forsyth Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute obtained saliva samples from 42 oral cancer patients and two groups of 45 cancer-free, age-matched control subjects. Scientists examined the samples to determine the levels of 40 common oral bacteria and found that three common bacteria species were highly sensitive and specific in predicting an oral cancer lesion. These bacteria were Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Prevotella melaninogenica and Streptococcus mitis. Of the three species, C. gingivalis showed the strongest association between salivary species and oral cancer.
"An early diagnostic test would save lives and reduce the disfigurement and functional problems that occur with late-stage treatment," said Dr. Donna Mager, lead researcher.
She cautioned that these results are preliminary and need to be tested in larger populations and with different types of lesions.
