Twenty-seven species of bacteria and fungi that live in people's mouths increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

The presence of certain bacteria and fungi in the mouth is associated with a 3.5-fold increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal and difficult tumors to detect in its early stages.

This is confirmed by a study published in the journal ' JAMA Oncology ', which analyzed saliva samples from more than 122,000 healthy people followed for almost a decade.

Scientists at NYU Langone Health (USA) have identified the oral microbiome of 445 patients who developed pancreatic cancer with that of another 445 participants who remained disease-free.

The results identified 27 species of bacteria and fungi linked to cancer risk. Among them, the Candida fungus , also found in the patients' pancreatic tumors, was implicated for the first time. It was also confirmed that some of the microbes linked to periodontitis—a serious gum infection—are also associated with an increased risk.

"These findings help us better understand the relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer," said Yixuan Meng, the study's lead author.

Experts point out that oral health could play a key role beyond preventing oral diseases. "Brushing and flossing not only help prevent periodontitis, but may also protect against cancer," emphasizes Richard Hayes, co-author and professor at NYU.

In addition to advancing knowledge, the researchers developed a predictive tool capable of estimating pancreatic cancer risk based on oral microbial profiles.

According to the authors, this line of work could pave the way for new early screening strategies for a type of cancer that is often diagnosed in advanced stages.