Mouth bacteria can kill cancer cells, recent research says

A recent study conducted by researchers from Guy's, St. Thomas', and King's College London has revealed a promising discovery regarding the potential role of certain oral bacteria in combating head and neck cancer cells.

The study, published in Cancer Communications, focuses on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide and a particularly challenging disease with limited recent advancements in treatment.

The research identifies a bacteria called Fusobacterium as a possible new hope in the fight against this type of cancer. While Fusobacterium has been known to contribute to the progression of colon cancer, the study suggests that it might prevent the spread of cancer to the head and neck.

The findings indicate that these bacteria can essentially "melt" head and neck cancer cells, pointing to a more complex relationship between these microorganisms and cancer than previously understood.

Dr. Miguel Reis Ferreira, the study's senior author, emphasized that this discovery must be balanced with the bacteria's known role in exacerbating other cancers, including those in the gut.

The research team analyzed data from 155 head and neck cancer patients, finding that those with higher naturally occurring levels of Fusobacterium had a significantly better prognosis than those with lower levels. According to a report by The Guardian, patients with higher levels of these bacteria had a 65 percent increased chance of survival.

Dr. Ferreira explained that the presence of Fusobacterium within head and neck cancers correlates with improved patient outcomes.

Moreover, laboratory experiments showed that when cancer cells were exposed to the bacteria in a petri dish, 70 to 90 percent of the cancer cells disappeared within a few days. The bacteria released toxic chemicals that effectively killed the tumor cells. "You put it in the cancer at very low quantities and it just starts killing it very quickly," Dr. Ferreira noted.

This groundbreaking research opens new avenues for potential cancer treatments, suggesting that certain bacteria may be harnessed as therapeutic agents against specific types of cancer.

However, further studies and clinical trials are needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play and to develop safe and effective bacterial-based therapies.