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Bioengineered Chewing Gum Reduces HPV and Bacteria Linked to Head and Neck Cancer
Key points
- Bioengineered chewing gum reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples.
- The gum nearly eliminated Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteria.
- The treatment preserved beneficial mouth bacteria.
- Research was led by Henry Daniell at the University of Pennsylvania.
New Approach to Combat Oral Microbes
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has developed a bioengineered chewing gum designed to target microbes linked to head and neck cancer. This gum, derived from lablab beans, contains FRIL, a naturally occurring antiviral protein. The findings were published in Scientific Reports.
Targeting Cancer-Associated Microbes
The study focused on three microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn). HPV infection is linked to an increase in oropharyngeal cancer, while Pg and Fn infections worsen survival rates for untreated oral cancer.
Significant Reduction in Microbe Levels
Tests using oral samples from HNSCC patients demonstrated that extracts from the bean gum reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples and 80% in oral rinse samples. The gum also nearly eliminated the two bacterial species, Pg and Fn, while preserving beneficial mouth bacteria.
Addressing a Need in Cancer Therapy
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive form of cancer with often poor outcomes, especially when diagnosed at later stages. The limited progress in improving patient quality of life and five-year survival with current cancer medications highlights the need for new, complementary treatment approaches. This bioengineered gum could offer a more accessible and affordable option.
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Reporting from
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a bioengineered chewing gum that reduced Human Papillomavirus (HPV) levels by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria associated with head and neck cancer in oral samples. This development offers a potentially more accessible and affordable treatment option for preventing and managing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).