Researchers develop chewing gum that may eliminate head and neck cancer pathogens
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that could represent a breakthrough in treating one of the most common and aggressive forms of head and neck cancer: squamous cell carcinoma.
Led by researcher Henry Daniel, the team found that chewing a piece of gum made from lablab beans, known as Hyacinth Beans, sharply reduces three key microbes associated with this cancer: human papillomavirus (HPV), and two bacterial species, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.
Building on previous research to create a gum containing a natural antiviral protein called FRIL, the researchers tested oral samples from patients and found that the gum extract reduced HPV by 93% in saliva samples and 80% in mouthwash samples. This is significant because the virus is responsible for 60% to 75% of oral and throat cancers, particularly high-risk strains such as HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 59.
The researchers also added protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide that eliminates harmful bacteria, to the gum. They found that a single dose reduced cancer-associated bacterial levels to nearly zero, without affecting beneficial oral bacteria. This distinguishes it from radiation therapy, which kills good bacteria and increases disease-causing yeasts.
According to Daniel, in a press release, the importance of this discovery lies in the fact that infection with these bacteria worsens survival rates for oral cancer patients, even after surgery and adjuvant therapies.
The team believes that the gum’s ability to target dangerous microbes while maintaining a healthy balance of the oral microbiome could make it an effective adjunct therapy alongside current treatments, or a preventive measure to stop infection and transmission. They support this by calling for clinical trials to confirm its efficacy.
This development follows previous studies showing that daily oral care, such as regular brushing and flossing, can significantly reduce the risk of head and neck cancers by lowering more than ten types of bacteria associated with squamous cell carcinoma.
