UPenn Dental Research: Antiviral and Antibacterial Chewing Gum Targets HPV and Oral Pathogens Linked to Head and Neck Cancer

10 Aug UPenn Dental Research: Antiviral and Antibacterial Chewing Gum Targets HPV and Oral Pathogens Linked to Head and Neck Cancer

Dr. Henry Daniell, Ph.D.

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What bacteria or viruses are associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas?

Dr. Daniell: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), anaerobic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) correlate with worse survival of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In tumorigenic cells HPV genome integrates into the host cell genome causing genome instability and genic alteration which facilitate mutation and hyperproliferation. One third of males in the globe is HPV positive and one fifth are infected with high risk HPV16 strain. Pg is invasive and replicates within tumor cells and influences oncogenic signaling of HNSCC. Fn triggers cancer progression by upregulating several oncogenes responsible for inflammation, cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis. Therefore, it is important to control HPV, Pg, and Fn in the oral cavity to reduce initiation or advancement of oral cancer.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of chewing gum with Bean-lectin (FRIL) gum?

Dr. Daniell: Antiviral action of FRIL — Flt3 Receptor Interacting Lectin (FRIL) present in lablab bean contains four carbohydrate-binding domains that bind efficiently to complex N-glycans present on virus surface, thereby entrapping virus into large aggregates thereby blocking viral entry into host cells. In addition, FRIL blocks viruses at the endosome level in host cells upon entry. In our Ex vivo clinical study, Bean-lectin (FRIL) gum single treatment (trapped) aggregated 93% of HPV in saliva and 80% in oral-rinse samples from HNSCC patients. Higher aggregation is saliva is due to higher viral load in saliva than oral rinse samples. However, in our clinical trial, we will evaluate three gums per day for four weeks duration to evaluate changes in HPV viral load.

MedicalResearch.com: Does the gum affect any other oral or gastrointestinal organisms, i.e. Helicobacter pylori?

Dr. Daniell: Our antibacterial chewing gum contains the antimicrobial peptide protegrin. In Ex vivo clinical studies, single dose of bean gum + protegrin-1 reduced Pg/Fn > 99% in saliva and oral-rinse samples (n = 42). However, in our clinical trial, we will evaluate three gums per day for four weeks duration to evaluate changes in HPV viral load. Although protegrin was effective against anaerobic Pg/Fn, it did not kill capsule forming bacteria including Streptococci, providing selectivity and protection of oral commensal bacteria. However, this selectivity is not a property of protegrin, but several oral bacteria protect themselves via capsules or biofilms. It is unlikely that gastrointestinal organisms will be affected because protegrin could be degraded by acids and enzymes in the stomach.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Dr. Daniell: Very little attention is paid to oral cancer related oral microbiome. Current treatments focus on surgical removal of tumors followed by radiation or chemotherapy. These treatments damage salivary glands, reduce saliva production, cause oral mucositis, and increase abundance of Candida albicans. Therefore, it is important to evaluate antiviral chewing gum at the onset of HNSCC before lesions advance to tumors, antibacterial gum during oral mucositis and antifungal gum post-radiation therapy. For related context on how oral bacteria are linked to HNSCC risk, see this MedicalResearch.com interview on oral bacterial species linked to a 50% increased risk of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Dr. Daniell: In addition to initiation of tumor, Pg, Fn and C. albicans secrete carcinogenic metabolites like acetaldehyde by converting glucose or alcohol. Therefore, elimination of these pathogenic microbes should help oral cancer patients at early stages of onset. While clinical trials are conducted in HNSCC or mucositis patients to evaluate safety and efficacy, antiviral/antibacterial/antifungal chewing gums could be used as prophylaxis to prevent infection by these pathogenic microbes.

Disclosures: None disclosed.

Citation:
Daniell, H., Wakade, G., Singh, R. et al. Ex vivo HNSCC clinical studies using saliva and antiviral or antibacterial chewing gums reveal reduction in carcinogenic microbes. Sci Rep16, 7886 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39062-w

Wakade G, Liu SC, Diep NE, Daniell H. Strategies to prevent HNSCC by chewing gum delivery of enzymes/antimicrobials to reduce carcinogenic acetaldehyde produced by pathogenic microbes. Molecular Therapy Oncology. 2026;201314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omton.2026.201314

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Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD