Oral bacterium in the pancreas associated with the severity of the tumor

The presence of oral bacteria in cystic tumors of the pancreas is badociated with the severity of the tumor, a study published by Karolinska Institutet research in Sweden in the journal Intestine reports. It is hoped that the results will help improve the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the West. The disease is often discovered late, which means that in most cases, the prognosis is bad. But not all tumors of the pancreas are cancerous. For example, there are so-called pancreatic cystic tumors (pancreatic cysts), many of which are benign. Some, however, may become cancerous.

It is currently difficult to differentiate these tumors. To prevent the risk of cancer, many patients undergo surgery, which puts a strain on the patient and the health services. However, researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that the presence of bacteria in cystic tumors was related to the severity of the tumor.

"We find most of the bacteria at the stage where the cysts begin to show signs of cancer," says corresponding author Margaret Sällberg Chen, Lecturer and Principal in the Department of Dentistry. "What we hope is that it can serve as a biomarker for the early identification of cancer cysts that need to be removed surgically to cure cancer, which will also reduce the need for unnecessary surgery for benign tumors." first, studies will be needed to corroborate our findings. "

The researchers examined the presence of bacterial DNA in the fluid from pancreatic cysts in 105 patients and compared the type and severity of the tumors. In doing so, they discovered that the fluid of cysts with dysplasia and high grade cancer contained much more bacterial DNA than that from benign cysts.

To identify the bacteria, the researchers sequenced the DNA from samples containing large amounts of bacterial DNA. They found large variations in the bacterial composition between different individuals, but also a greater presence of some oral bacteria in the fluids and tissues from cysts with dysplasia and high grade cancer.

"We were surprised to find oral bacteria in the pancreas, but it was not totally unexpected," said Dr. Sällberg Chen. "The bacterium we have identified has already been shown in a previous smaller and higher study in the saliva of patients with pancreatic cancer."

The results may help re-evaluate the role of bacteria in the development of pancreatic cysts, she notes. If subsequent studies show that the bacterium actually affects the pathological process, this could lead to new therapeutic strategies using antibacterial agents.

The researchers also investigated various factors that may affect the amount of bacterial DNA in the tumor fluid. They found that the presence of bacterial DNA was higher in patients who underwent invasive pancreatic endoscopy, a procedure involving the insertion of a flexible tube into the mouth to examine and treat pancreatic affections resulting in the possible transfer of oral bacteria into the pancreas.

"The results were not completely unambiguous, so endoscopy may not be the complete answer to the reason for the presence of the bacteria," she continues. "But we could possibly reduce the risk of transferring oral bacteria into the pancreas by rinsing the mouth with an antibacterial agent and ensuring good oral hygiene before the examination.This would be an interesting clinical study."