Artisanal chewing gum reduces oral germs linked to cancer

Researchers led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dentistry have shown that extracts from industrial chewing gum reduce the levels of three microbes known to be associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), paving the way for more effective and affordable treatments. Their findings are published in Scientific Reports.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common cancer that develops in the lining of the mouth and throat. It can be aggressive and often has poor outcomes, especially when diagnosed in advanced stages, Daniell says. He notes that the most recently approved cancer drugs have not significantly improved quality of life or five-year survival rates, underscoring the need for better treatments.

Building on their previous work using a lab bean gum (bean gum) that contained the naturally occurring antiviral protein FRIL, Daniell and his colleagues looked at the levels of three microbes linked to cancer—human papillomavirus, or HPV—and two types of bacteria. Porphyromonas gingivalis (p.) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn)-in oral samples from HNSCC patients.

Global increase in oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV infection. Both Pg and Fn infections worsen survival rates of untreated recurrent or metastatic oral cancer, even after surgery and risk-adjusted adjuvant or adjuvant therapies.”

Henry Daniell, School of Dentistry

They found that gum bean extracts reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples and by 80% in mouthwash samples. When they engineered the bean gum to also contain protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide that can kill harmful bacteria, they found that a single dose reduced the levels of Pg and Fn to almost zero without affecting the beneficial bacteria normally found in the mouth. This contrasts with radiation therapy, which reduces beneficial bacteria and increases disease-causing yeast (Candida albicans).

“Cancer of the lips and oral cavity was the seventh largest type of cancer in terms of cancer incidence and mortality rate worldwide among adolescents, young adults and middle-aged adults in 2022,” says Daniell. “Our findings support the value of advancing these therapies into clinical trials as adjuncts to current therapies or as prophylaxis to prevent infection and transmission.”