复旦大学Cell子刊：全面揭示口腔微生物组与口腔健康在食管癌中的作用

Core Insights - Approximately 3.5 billion people are affected by oral health issues, which pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in underdeveloped regions [2] - Poor oral health is increasingly linked to a higher risk of esophageal cancer (EC), which includes two main pathological subtypes: esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), leading to around 445,000 deaths annually [2] - The oral microbiome plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer, yet its exact mechanisms remain to be fully understood [2] Research Findings - A study published in Cell Reports Medicine by researchers from Fudan University mapped the oral microbiome landscape and its interplay with poor oral health in the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [3][4] - The research analyzed metagenomic sequencing data from 390 pairs of ESCC case-control samples and 206 pairs of newly diagnosed EC case-control samples [6] - The study identified changes in 50 bacterial species in ESCC, such as an increase in Porphyromonas catoniae and a decrease in Campylobacter rectus, along with disruptions in 54 biochemical pathways [6] - The association between poor oral health and ESCC risk was more pronounced in populations with lower levels of Streptococcus mitis, indicating a potential link to thiamine recycling and energy metabolism pathways [6][8] Implications - The findings underscore the potential for targeted interventions on the oral microbiome to improve oral health and prevent or treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [10]