Cancer-fighting chewing gum cuts HPV levels by up to 93% — Researchers

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that could offer a surprisingly simple way to target microbes associated with head and neck cancers.

Tests using the specially engineered gum on oral samples from patients found that it reduced HPV levels by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer in laboratory tests.

The treatment delivers targeted biological agents directly in the mouth, potentially tackling cancer-associated viruses and bacteria without destroying the microbial communities that help keep the mouth healthy.

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Maintaining beneficial bacteria in the mouth is increasingly recognised as important to both oral and overall health. Some cancer treatments can disrupt this microbial balance.

The research, led by Henry Daniell of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, was published in Scientific Reports. The researchers said the findings could eventually support the development of a more accessible treatment that works alongside existing cancer therapies.

However, the experiments were conducted using oral samples from patients rather than testing whether the gum can prevent or treat cancer in people. Clinical trials will be needed to establish its safety and effectiveness.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a common cancer affecting tissues in the mouth and throat. The disease can be aggressive, particularly when diagnosed at a later stage, and treatment remains challenging for many patients.

The new research builds on earlier work involving chewing gum made from lablab beans, sometimes referred to as bean gum. The gum contains FRIL, a naturally occurring antiviral protein.

Researchers tested the gum against three microbes associated with head and neck cancer: HPV, the virus responsible for many oropharyngeal cancers, and the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum).

HPV levels fell by 93% in saliva samples and by 80% in oral-rinse samples after exposure to the gum extract.

The researchers then modified the gum by adding protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide capable of killing harmful bacteria. A single dose reduced levels of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum to almost undetectable levels in the tests.

Daniell said the increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers, together with the association between P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum infections and poorer outcomes in some oral cancer patients, highlights the need for new approaches.

According to the researchers, the technology could eventually serve as an additional treatment alongside existing cancer therapies or as a preventive approach aimed at reducing infection or transmission among people at risk.

Its delivery method could also make the treatment relatively simple and accessible if it eventually proves safe and effective in clinical trials.