F. nucleatum levels in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, periodontal disease

Researchers examined Fusobacterium nucleatum presence and levels in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and periodontal disease.

In a study published in the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine, the researchers collected oral rinse samples from 31 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 49 patients without cancer. They conducted oral examinations and evaluated F. nucelatum levels via droplet digital polymerase chain reaction.

The researchers discovered that compared with those who didn’t have cancer, the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma had higher F. nucleatum levels and all of them had periodontal disease. Further, the patients with cancer who had high levels of F. nucelatum had more infiltrative lesions compared with those with cancer who had low levels of the bacterium.

The researchers concluded that further studies are needed to validate the results.

Read more: Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine

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