Periodontal Pathogens in the Etiology of Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chronic pancreatitis is frequently observed in patients with pancreatic cancer, and a significant relationship between orodigestive cancer-related deaths and chronic periodontitis has been detected. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola, collectively called the Red complex, are the major pathogens responsible for chronic periodontitis and secrete peptidylarginine deiminase. Anti-P. gingivalis antibodies titers are higher in pancreatic cancer patients than in healthy subjects.

Summary: This review examines the association between oral bacteria and the etiology of pancreatic cancer.

Key message: High rates of tumor suppressor gene p53 mutations, particularly p53 arginine mutations, were detected in pancreatic cancer patients. K-ras arginine mutations were detected in patients with pancreatic cancer. Oral bacteria peptidylarginine deiminases might lead to the p53 and K-ras point mutations by degrading arginine.

Practical implications: Oral bacteria are likely to be responsible for the development of pancreatic cancer. If this hypothesis is true, it may reveal the real cause of pancreatic cancer, which is a fatal disease.

Keywords: Etiology; Pancreatic cancer; Periodontal pathogens.