Scientists have created a bioengineered chewing gum that might provide a novel approach to targeting microbes related to head and neck cancer. In trials using oral samples from patients, extracts from the gum significantly reduced one virus and two bacterial strains associated with the illness.
The study was spearheaded by Henry Daniell at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Results were shared in Scientific Reports, and they could pave the way for more accessible and cost-effective treatments.
A Need for Better Head and Neck Cancer Therapies
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent type of cancer starting in the mouth and throat tissues. This form of cancer tends to be particularly aggressive, and the prognosis is often unfavorable when diagnosed at a later stage.
Daniell notes that many newly approved cancer drugs haven’t significantly improved patients’ quality of life or five-year survival rates. This limited advancement underscored the need for new strategies that could complement existing therapies.
Targeting HPV and Harmful Oral Bacteria
The recent study builds on earlier investigations of chewing gum derived from lablab beans (bean gum), which contains FRIL, a naturally occurring antiviral protein.
Daniell and his research team analyzed oral samples from HNSCC patients to examine three microbes linked to cancer: human papillomavirus (HPV), and two types of bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn).
“The rise in oropharyngeal cancer globally is tied to HPV infection,” Daniell explains. “Moreover, Pg and Fn infections worsen survival outcomes for those with untreated recurrent or metastatic oral cancer, even post-surgery and with adjusted adjuvant therapies.”
Gum Extracts Sharply Reduce Microbe Levels
Results revealed that bean gum extracts reduced HPV levels in saliva samples by 93%, while oral rinse samples saw an 80% decrease in HPV levels.
The researchers then modified the bean gum to include protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide that can eliminate harmful bacteria. Remarkably, a single dose nearly eradicated the levels of Pg and Fn.
Significantly, this treatment did not seem to affect the beneficial bacteria typically found in the mouth, in contrast to radiation therapy, which can diminish healthy bacteria and promote the growth of harmful yeast (Candida albicans).
A Potential Addition to Cancer Treatment
The capacity to target harmful microbes while maintaining a healthy oral microbiome could render the gum useful in various capacities. Researchers believe it could ultimately serve as a supplementary therapy alongside current cancer regimens or act as a preventive measure against infections.
“Lip and oral cavity cancer ranked seventh in incidence and mortality rates globally for adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults in 2022,” Daniell remarks. “These findings endorse the importance of advancing these therapies into clinical trials, whether as adjuncts to existing treatments or as preventive measures against infection and transmission.”
