Oral infection, carcinogenesis and cancer

Abstract

Recent research has shown statistical associations between dental infections and cancer in general but the role of oral microbiota in carcinogenesis is unclear. Oral micro-organisms up-regulate cytokines and other inflammatory mediators that affect the complex metabolic pathways and may thus indeed be involved in carcinogenesis. Microbial populations on mouth mucosa differ between healthy and malignant sites and certain oral bacterial species have been linked with malignancies. Oral microbes also have carcinogenic metabolites, such as acetaldehyde produced from ethanol. In this chapter we briefly review current knowledge about the interaction between oral microorganisms, oral infections and cancer. The focus is both on oral and ear-nose-throat cancer and malignancies in other organs.