Periodontal Disease Control may Prevent Stomach Cancer

Stomach Cancer causing Precancerous Lesions Can Now Be Predicted By Elevated oral Pathogen Colonization And Lack Of Bacterial Diversity found a new study

Highlights

Elevated pathogens associated with periodontal disease and bacterial diversity lack can contribute to precancerous lesions preceding to stomach cancer
Periodontal disease, is a chronic, destructive disease in the gums and oral cavity
Helicobacter pylori colonization, cigarette smoking, eating salt and preserved foods have also previously been confirmed to contribute to stomach cancer

Increased colonization of oral pathogens and the lack of bacterial diversity can now be linked to pre-cancerous lesions proceeding to stomach cancer found a new study published in Journal of Periodontology.

The findings, provide new evidence that the increase in pathogens associated with periodontal disease - a chronic, destructive disease in the gums and oral cavity - could contribute to the development of precancerous lesions of stomach cancer.

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‘The colonization of periodontal pathogens and the alternated bacterial diversity are important factors that, when at higher or lower levels respectively, may contribute to an increased risk of developing pre-cancerous gastric lesions’

"Our study reinforces earlier findings that poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of precancerous lesions of stomach cancer," said Yihong Li, DDS, MPH, DrPH, professor of basic science and craniofacial biology at NYU Dentistry and the study's corresponding author.

The American Cancer Society estimated that 26,370 new cases of stomach or gastric cancer would be diagnosed in 2016, resulting in 10,703 deaths. Accumulating evidence suggests that chronic inflammation caused by oral bacterial infections may contribute to the development and progression of various types of cancer, including stomach cancer.

Although some risk factors - such as H. pylori colonization, cigarette smoking, and eating salt and preserved foods - have previously been confirmed to contribute to the development of stomach cancer, many new cases unrelated to these risk factors are diagnosed each year.

Loose Teeth - Causes - Symptoms - Treatment - FAQs
Looseness of teeth is caused by a disease of the periodontium and includes the tissues surrounding the teeth.

Scientists have hypothesized that a group of pathogens may be responsible for causing periodontal disease and the resulting chronic systemic inflammation that may contribute to the development of gastric cancer.

This study assesses the association between periodontal pathogen colonization and the potential risk of developing pre-cancerous lesions - including chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia - that may predict stomach cancer.

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The researchers studied 105 individuals scheduled to receive an upper endoscopy. After the endoscopic procedure and histopathologic evaluation, 35 people were diagnosed with pre-cancerous lesions of gastric cancer and another 70 people of the same ages without pre-cancerous lesions were included in the study as a control group.

The researchers performed full-mouth examinations to assess participants' periodontal conditions. Saliva and dental plaque samples were collected to evaluate colonization by several of pathogens - P. gingivalis, T. denticola, T. forsythia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans - and to characterize oral microbial diversity.

Periodontitis| Gingivitis - Causes Risk Factors Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Periodontitis or pyorrhea is infection and inflammation of ligament tissues that surround and support the teeth. Periodontitis causes loss of alveolar bones leading to loosening and loss of teeth.

Compared with the control group, patients with pre-cancerous lesions experienced higher prevalence of bleeding when probed (31.5 percent versus 22.4 percent), higher levels of two pathogens (T. denticola and A. actinomycetemcomitans), and less bacterial diversity in their saliva.

A further analysis, which took into account socio-demographic factors, oral health behaviors, and periodontal assessments, revealed additional predictors of precancerous lesions: elevated colonization of three pathogens (T. forsythia, T. denticola, and A. actinomycetemcomitans), decreased bacterial diversity in dental plaque, and not flossing regularly.

The researchers concluded that the colonization of periodontal pathogens and the alternated bacterial diversity in the oral cavity are important factors that, when at higher or lower levels respectively, may contribute to an increased risk of developing pre-cancerous gastric lesions.

"Based on our findings, treatment for chronic periodontal disease and control of periodontal pathogen infections should be included in future strategies for preventing stomach cancer," said Dr. Li.

Reference:

Jinghua Sun, Min Zhou, Christian R. Salazar, Rosemary Hays, Sukhleen Bedi, Yu Chen, Yihong Li. Chronic Periodontal Disease, Periodontal Pathogen Colonization, and Increased Risk of Precancerous Gastric Lesions, Journal of Periodontology (2017).https://doi.org/10.1902/jop.2017.160829

Source-Eurekalert