13 Oct NYU Study Finds Association Between Pancreatic Cancer and Oral Microbiome
Dr. Jiyoung Ahn
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jiyoung Ahn, PhD
Professor of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Associate Director for Population Science, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center
NYU Langone Health
New York, NY 10016
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: About 10 years ago. we reported that people with poor oral health seem to have a greater risk of pancreatic cancer development. We suspected that this could be due to oral microbiota. More recently, animal studies, by other groups, showed that bacteria from the mouth can actually travel through saliva into the pancreas. But we didn’t know which exact species of bacteria or fungi might be involved in pancreas cancer development. We therefore conducted this large human study to examine the oral microbiome — including whole bacteria and fungi profiles in the mouth, and to see which bacteria and fungal taxa are associated with subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer development.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: We identified 27 individual bacterial and fungal species significantly associated with pancreatic cancer development. Some were positively associated, increasing risk, while others were inversely associated.
Altogether, we summarized the effects of these 27 microbial species by creating a microbial risk score that combines each species’ effect size and abundance. Using this approach, we found that individuals with higher scores had a 3.5-fold increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
MedicalResearch.com: Are any of the organisms influenced by oral health care products ie mouthwashes?
MedicalResearch.com: I don’t think so.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: This could serve as an important risk-stratification tool in healthy populations. If validated, oral microbiome profiling could serve as a non-invasive biomarker to identify individuals at elevated risk who might benefit from enhanced surveillance — which is especially important given the lack of effective early detection methods for pancreatic cancer.
These findings suggest that maintaining good oral hygiene — through regular brushing, flossing, and dental care — is critical. This is a modifiable factor for pancreatic cancer prevention. This also aligns with broader public health messages, such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on oral health, which emphasizes that oral health has important effects on overall systemic health.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: It’s also important to note that our study shows associations, but it does not prove causality. We need additional mechanistic studies and, ideally, randomized clinical trials to determine whether these microbes play a direct role in pancreatic cancer development.
I do not have any disclosures.
Citation:
Meng Y, Wu F, Kwak S, et al. Oral Bacterial and Fungal Microbiome and Subsequent Risk for Pancreatic Cancer. JAMA Oncol. Published online September 18, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.3377 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2839132
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Last Updated on October 13, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD
