CaliToday (29/10/2025): A landmark study of over 122,000 people has identified specific bacteria and fungi in the mouth that can create a "microbial risk score," potentially offering a new, non-invasive way to detect one of the world's deadliest cancers.
In a major discovery that reinforces the profound link between oral and systemic health, a large cohort study has revealed that the specific mix of bacteria and fungi living in our mouths may strongly influence the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously deadly precisely because it is often discovered too late. This research, however, opens the door to using the oral microbiome as a powerful, early-warning signal.
The study, which followed more than 122,000 people, used advanced genome and fungal sequencing methods to create a detailed map of the participants' oral microbiota. The findings were stark.
The "Microbial Fingerprint" of High Risk
Researchers identified several "high-risk" microbes. The presence of certain periodontal pathogens bacteria known to cause gum disease was linked to a staggering increase in cancer risk.
Specifically, individuals whose oral microbiomes contained Porphyromonas gingivalis, Parvimonas micra, and Eubacterium nodatum were found to have a more than threefold increase in their risk of later developing pancreatic cancer.
The investigation didn't stop at bacteria. The team also analyzed the oral "mycobiome" (the community of fungi) and found that the fungal genus Candida was also associated with a heightened risk.
A "Risk Score" for Early Detection
Going beyond previous, smaller studies, the researchers didn't just isolate individual "bad bugs." They analyzed the entire microbial community to find a predictive pattern.
Their analysis identified 27 different species some that are harmful and others that appear to be protective that together form a unique "microbial risk score." The results were clear: individuals with a high-risk score were far more likely to develop pancreatic cancer during the study's follow-up period.
A New Frontier in Cancer Screening
This discovery is a critical step toward a new, non-invasive screening method for a disease that currently has none.
The findings suggest that the oral microbiota could act as an accessible biomarker. In the future, a simple, non-invasive mouth swab could be used to identify individuals at elevated risk long before any symptoms appear. This would allow for earlier, more targeted prevention strategies and surveillance.
While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the study provides a powerful new understanding of how inflammation and microbial imbalance in the mouth can have life-threatening consequences elsewhere in the body. For now, it reinforces the critical importance of oral health as a key component of overall wellness.
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Original Research Reference: Based on findings associated with PMID: 27742762
Thế Anh
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