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Review
. 2022 Jun 15;10(1):93.
doi: 10.1186/s40168-022-01262-7.

The oral microbiome, pancreatic cancer and human diversity in the age of precision medicine

Kelly M Herremans  1 , Andrea N Riner  1 , Miles E Cameron  1 , Kelley L McKinley  2 , Eric W Triplett  2 , Steven J Hughes  1 , Jose G Trevino  3
Affiliations
Review

The oral microbiome, pancreatic cancer and human diversity in the age of precision medicine

Kelly M Herremans et al. Microbiome. .

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with limited diagnostic and treatment options. Not all populations are affected equally, as disparities exist in pancreatic cancer prevalence, treatment and outcomes. Recently, next-generation sequencing has facilitated a more comprehensive analysis of the human oral microbiome creating opportunity for its application in precision medicine. Oral microbial shifts occur in patients with pancreatic cancer, which may be appreciated years prior to their diagnosis. In addition, pathogenic bacteria common in the oral cavity have been found within pancreatic tumors. Despite these findings, much remains unknown about how or why the oral microbiome differs in patients with pancreatic cancer. As individuals develop, their oral microbiome reflects both their genotype and environmental influences. Genetics, race/ethnicity, smoking, socioeconomics and age affect the composition of the oral microbiota, which may ultimately play a role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to explain the oral dysbiosis found in patients with pancreatic cancer though they have yet to be confirmed. With a better understanding of the interplay between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer, improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches may be implemented to reduce healthcare disparities. Video Abstract.

Keywords: Cancer; Disparities; Genetics; Microbiota; Oral health; Periodontitis; Race; Smoking; Socioeconomics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The interplay of the oral microbiome, oral health and pancreatic cancer: The oral microbiome, oral health and pancreatic cancer are intricately related, though mechanisms have yet to be elucidated
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Individual heterogeneity impacts the oral microbiome: Human diversity shapes the composition of the oral microbiome. Environmental influences including genetics, race/ethnicity, socioeconomics, smoking and age affect the makeup of an individual’s oral microbiome
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Proposed mechanisms linking the oral and pancreatic microbiomes: The composition and diversity of the oral microbiome may influence the development and treatment of pancreatic cancer through systemic inflammation, direct inoculation, transient systemic bacteremia and/or their analogous environments
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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