Mouth Bacteria Discovered to Kill Head and Neck Cancer Cells

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London has revealed that a type of mouth bacteria, fusobacterium, can kill cancer cells in the head and neck. This discovery, published in Cancer Communications, could potentially revolutionize the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a type of cancer that has seen little advancement in treatment.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in the world and often leads to devastating outcomes for patients. However, the study has found new hope in fusobacterium, a bacterium known to worsen bowel cancer but, conversely, appears to destroy cancer cells in the head and neck.

“This research reveals that these bacteria play a more complex role than previously known in their relationship with cancer – that they essentially melt head and neck cancer cells. However, this finding should be balanced by their known role in making cancers, such as those in the bowel, get worse,” stated Dr. Miguel Reis Ferreira, senior author of the study.

The international team, led by Dr. Ferreira, analyzed data from 155 head and neck cancer patients and found that those with higher levels of fusobacterium had a significantly better prognosis. According to the study, patients with higher bacterial levels saw a 65 percent increase in survival chances.

Dr. Ferreira explained, “In essence, we found that when you find these bacteria within head and neck cancers, they have much better outcomes. The other thing that we found is that in cell cultures this bacterium is capable of killing cancer.”

Laboratory tests showed that 70-90% of cancer cells disappeared after being exposed to fusobacterium for a few days. The bacterium kills cancer cells by releasing toxic molecules. “You put it in the cancer at very low quantities and it just starts killing it very quickly,” said Dr. Ferreira.

The research team initially expected fusobacterium to exacerbate head and neck cancers, given its role in promoting bowel cancer growth. Instead, they discovered a potential new cure for this devastating disease. “At the end of a few days, it just destroys the cancer completely,” Dr. Ferreira stated.