A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has found a surprising connection between gum disease and pancreatic cancer.
Led by Professor Gabriel Nussbaum and his team at the Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, this research offers new clues about how bacteria in our mouths might affect our chances of developing one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
The study focuses on a bacterium called Porphyromonas gingivalis. This bacteria is commonly found in people with gum disease, a condition that causes swelling, bleeding, and damage to the tissues around the teeth.
Until recently, P. gingivaliswas mostly known for its role in poor oral health. But Nussbaum’s study, published in the journal Gut, shows it may do more than just harm the gums.
The researchers used a special group of mice that were genetically more likely to develop pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a fast-growing and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer. They placed P. gingivalis into the gums of these mice and followed what happened next.
The results were eye-opening: the bacteria didn’t just stay in the mouth—it actually moved to the pancreas. Once it arrived there, it began to change the natural balance of microbes inside the pancreas.
This shift in the pancreas’s microbial environment sped up the transformation of cells from pre-cancerous to cancerous. In short, the presence of P. gingivalis made it easier and faster for pancreatic cancer to develop.
Even more concerning was the discovery that in mice with certain genetic mutations—mutations also found in some humans—the bacteria had an even stronger effect. These mutations allowed the bacteria to survive and thrive inside pancreatic cells. As a result, the bacteria helped create an environment where cancer could grow more easily.
This study is one of the first to clearly show how bacteria from the mouth can play an active role in triggering cancer in another part of the body. It suggests that oral health might be more important to overall health than we once thought. Taking care of our teeth and gums could help lower the risk of serious diseases, including some types of cancer.
Professor Nussbaum says this research should make us think differently about the link between mouth health and body health. The study also raises the possibility of new ways to fight pancreatic cancer.
If scientists can learn how to block P. gingivalis from reaching the pancreas—or stop it from surviving there—they might be able to prevent or slow down cancer development.
This new understanding of the link between oral bacteria and cancer is part of a growing field of research looking at how the bacteria in and on our bodies (known as the microbiome) affect our health. In the future, we may see cancer treatments that target harmful bacteria or strengthen the body’s ability to fight them.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat, partly because it’s often diagnosed too late. New findings like this give hope that we might one day detect it earlier or prevent it from forming in the first place.
If you’re interested in cancer research, other studies have looked at how low-dose drug combinations might stop cancer from spreading, and how nutrients in certain fish could act like poison to cancer cells. Scientists are also studying the role of vitamins in cancer prevention.
This research by Prof. Nussbaum and his team adds a valuable piece to the puzzle and reminds us that taking care of our mouths may help protect more than just our teeth.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods, and results showing daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce cancer death risk.
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