In 2025 alone, more than 67,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—and nearly 52,000 will die from it, according to the nonprofit Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Pancreatic cancer is also the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., following only lung and colon. The American Cancer Society says there is “no sure way” to prevent it, but making certain daily decisions, such as exercising or avoiding alcohol, can lower your risk. And a new, groundbreaking study just revealed a surprising connection between maintaining good oral hygiene and pancreatic cancer risk.
The study, led by cancer epidemiology researchers at New York University Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, found that the presence of oral bacteria and fungi were “significant risk factors” for the potential development of pancreatic cancer. Says study lead author Yixuan Meng, PhD: “Our findings provide new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer.”
Published this month in the Oncology journal of the American Medical Association, the study analyzed data from two large epidemiological studies involving saliva samples from 122,000 Americans, who were then followed up with for an average of nine years. Further detailed in a press release, the current study “identified 445 patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and compared the DNA of their microbes with that of another 445 randomly selected study subjects who had remained cancer-free.” Certain risk factors, such as an individual’s age, cigarette usage, or race were also taken into account.
The research helps shed light on a topic experts have “long observed”: the link between poor oral health and pancreatic cancer. While research last year discussed the relationship between oral bacteria and the risk of head and neck cancer, this most recent study confirmed that three types of oral bacterial periodontal pathogens, four fungi, and “an additional 20 bacteria” together were connected to a 3.5 times greater risk of pancreatic cancer. Among the 27 microbes linked to a higher cancer risk, the researchers highlighted three bacteria known for their connection to gum disease: P. gingivalis, E. nodatum, and P. micra.
The study is also noted as “the first to show that oral fungi—namely a type of yeast in the genus Candida that naturally lives on the skin and throughout the body—may play a role in pancreatic cancer,” according to NYU. The team found evidence of this same oral Candida species in patients’ pancreatic tumors. Previous research has identified that this and other fungi can contribute to tumor growth in cases of pancreatic and colorectal tumors.
“It is clearer than ever that brushing and flossing your teeth may not only help prevent periodontal disease but may also protect against cancer,” says study co-senior author Richard Hayes, DDS, PhD, from NYU’s Department of Population Health.
To maintain good oral health—and reduce the odds of developing periodontal, or gum, disease—the Cleveland Clinic recommends brushing two to three times per day, flossing at least once daily, and visiting your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings. Smoking is also a major risk factor for both gum disease and pancreatic cancer, so quitting can also offer dual protection.
Pancreatic cancer is often called a “silent killer” due to its lack of early symptoms, but Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, professor of population health and medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, says these new findings could make a tangible difference: “By profiling bacterial and fungal populations in the mouth, oncologists may be able to flag those most in need of pancreatic cancer screening.”
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