Certain cases of head and neck cancer have been increasing in the U.S. over recent years. A significant number of these are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), yet other microbes can also contribute to the issue.
A research team has identified a unique chewing gum that might assist individuals with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is a prevalent cancer affecting the lining of the mouth and throat. According to Henry Daniell, the study’s lead author and a vice-chair at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, this gum could help reduce cancer-related oral microbes.
The idea of an anti-cancer gum is intriguing, but there are considerations to keep in mind. Here’s what you should know.
Meet the experts: Included in the research are Henry Daniell and Paolo Serafini, an immunologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
What did the study find?
The study published in Scientific Reports looked at a chewing gum made from proteins extracted from lablab beans. The researchers focused on the levels of three microbes connected to cancer: HPV, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum from the saliva of HNSCC patients.
While HPV is known to increase the rates of HNSCC, the other two microbes are associated with poorer survival in untreated oral cancer cases. The findings revealed that the gum extracts reduced HPV levels by 93 percent in saliva and 80 percent in oral rinses. Moreover, when the gum was engineered to include an antimicrobial peptide known as protegrin, just one dose significantly lowered levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum to nearly undetectable levels.
Interestingly, this process did not negatively affect beneficial bacteria found in the mouth.
Why gum?
The researchers developed this gum not just for novelty. According to Daniell, oral medications often get diluted in the bloodstream, which makes them ineffective for targeted delivery at infection sites. Chewing gum, on the other hand, allows for direct antiviral and antibacterial effects at the source.
This gum should complement current treatments, as Daniell emphasizes that existing therapies should continue.
How does this work, exactly?
The gum contains a natural antiviral protein called FRIL from lablab beans. This protein binds to surface proteins on viruses, effectively trapping them. Daniell mentions that antibacterial proteins in the gum target and destroy harmful bacteria.
This could potentially be quite impactful. “Chewing antiviral or antibacterial gums neutralizes over 95 percent of viruses and harmful bacteria,” he notes.
What does this mean for cancer care?
That’s tricky to pin down right now. According to Serafini, it’s uncertain how long the gum can maintain its effectiveness against bacteria and viruses, with his estimate being about an hour. “That’s not likely to have a major effect,” he explains.
Serafini also highlights that an HPV vaccine is designed specifically to reduce the risk of HNSCC without any chewing involved. “The available HPV vaccine prevents cervical and head and neck cancers in most individuals,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Daniell mentions that clinical trials for antiviral chewing gum are getting underway in London, with plans for similar studies for HNSCC patients at the University of Pennsylvania soon.
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