Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine have developed a bio-modified chewing gum that could be a breakthrough in the treatment of one of the most common and aggressive types of head and neck cancer, carcinoma in situ.
The team, led by researcher Henry Daniel, found that chewing a piece of this gum made from ivy beans, also known as hyacinth beans, can drastically reduce three major microbes associated with this cancer: human papillomavirus (HPV) and two types of bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.
The researchers built upon previous research to create a chewing gum containing a natural antiviral protein called FRIL. They tested oral samples from patients and found that the gum extract reduced human papillomavirus by 93% in saliva samples and 80% in mouthwash samples. This is significant because the virus is responsible for 60% to 75% of oral and throat cancers, especially high-risk types such as HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 59.
The researchers also added protegrin to the gum, an antimicrobial peptide that kills harmful bacteria. A single dose of it reduced levels of cancer-associated bacteria to almost zero, without affecting the beneficial bacteria in the mouth, which distinguishes it from radiation therapy that kills good bacteria and increases disease-causing yeasts.
The significance of this discovery lies in the fact that infection with this bacterium worsens the survival rates of oral cancer patients, even after surgery and adjuvant therapies, as Daniel explained in a press release.
The team believes that chewing gum's ability to target dangerous microbes while maintaining a healthy balance of the oral microbiome could make it an effective adjunct to current treatments, or a preventative measure to stop infection and transmission, and they support this by calling for clinical trials to confirm its effectiveness.
This development comes after previous studies showed that daily oral care, such as regular brushing and flossing, can significantly reduce the chances of developing head and neck cancers by lowering more than ten types of bacteria associated with squamous cell carcinoma.
