Researchers at the New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) and New York University School of Medicine have found that elevated pathogen colonization and a lack of bacterial diversity in the mouth were identified in people with precancerous lesions that could precede stomach cancer. This work provides evidence that the increase in pathogens associated with periodontal disease (gum disease) could contribute to the development of precancerous lesions of stomach cancer. The specific finding of the study is that poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of precancerous lesions of stomach cancer. The potential of developing periodontal disease is one of the main risks of keeping wisdom teeth as discussed over at http://www.teethremoval.com/risks_of_keeping_wisdom_teeth.html.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 26,370 new cases of stomach or gastric cancer were diagnosed in 2016, and this lead to 10,703 deaths. Evidence suggests that chronic inflammation caused by oral bacterial infections may contribute to the development and progression of various types of cancer. It has been suggested 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.
The study assessed the association between periodontal pathogen colonization and the potential risk of developing precancerous lesions, including chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia, that often may occur before the onset stomach cancer. The researchers studied 105 individuals scheduled to receive an upper endoscopy. After the upper endoscopy and a histopathologic evaluation, 35 people were diagnosed with precancerous lesions of gastric cancer and the remaining individuals served as control. The researchers performed mouth examinations to assess the study participants’ periodontal conditions. The team collected saliva and dental plaque samples to evaluate colonization by several pathogens including T. denticola, T. forsythia, P. gingivalis, and A. actinomycetemcomitans, and to also characterize oral microbial diversity.
Those with precancerous lesions experienced a higher prevalence of bleeding when probed than the control group, had higher levels of two pathogens (T. denticola and A. actinomycetemcomitans), and had less bacterial diversity found in their saliva. Additional analysis showed further predictors of precancerous lesions: elevated colonization of three pathogens (T. denticola, T. forsythia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans), decreased bacterial diversity in dental plaque, and not flossing regularly. The researchers believe the increased colonization of periodontal pathogens and the lack of bacterial diversity in the mouth are important factors that may contribute to an increased risk of developing precancerous gastric lesions. Thus the researchers feel that treating chronic periodontal disease and controlling periodontal pathogen infections is important to help prevent the onset of stomach cancer.
Note that other recent research also showed that periodontal disease could increase esophageal cancer and gallbladder cancer risk, see https://blog.teethremoval.com/prior-gum-disease-increases-cancer-risk/.
Source: Jinghua Sun and et. al., Chronic Periodontal Disease, Periodontal Pathogen Colonization, and Increased Risk of Precancerous Gastric Lesions, Journal of Periodontology, vol. 88, issue 11, 2017.