Jaw-Dropping Innovation: Engineered Chewing Gum Targets Cancer-Linked Bacteria
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an engineered chewing gum that targets microorganisms associated with head and neck cancers. The treatment eliminates harmful bacteria without damaging the mouth's natural, beneficial microbiome.
A groundbreaking study published in the journal 'Scientific Reports' and led by Professor Henry Daniell of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine presents an extraordinary medical development: an engineered chewing gum that targets microorganisms associated with head and neck cancers, providing hope for the development of more accessible treatments alongside existing protocols.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a common and aggressive type of cancer that develops in the lining tissues of the mouth and throat, with survival rates remaining low when diagnosed at advanced stages. According to Professor Daniell, currently approved drugs have not always led to a dramatic improvement in patients' quality of life, highlighting the need for complementary therapeutic approaches.
The study builds on a previous development of a chewing gum made from cowpea beans containing a natural antiviral protein called FRIL. Researchers examined saliva samples from head and neck cancer patients to test its effect on three key factors that exacerbate disease progression: the human papillomavirus and two strains of harmful bacteria – Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.
The results proved that extracts from the gum reduced virus levels in saliva by 93% and in mouthwash samples by 80%. Furthermore, after the researchers engineered the gum to include an antimicrobial component called protegrin, a single dose was able to reduce the levels of dangerous bacteria to almost zero. It is important to note that the treatment affected only the problematic viruses and bacteria without harming the friendly bacteria that live naturally in the mouth – a significant advantage compared to radiation treatments that tend to damage good bacteria and encourage the development of harmful fungi.
Oral and lip cancer ranked seventh in global morbidity and mortality rates as of 2022. Researchers now hope to advance the development to the clinical trial stage, so that in the future it may serve as a preventive measure or an effective complementary treatment that curbs the spread of viruses and bacteria without compromising patients' quality of life.
