Bioengineered Chewing Gum Shows Promise Against Head and Neck Cancers
Summary
A bioengineered chewing gum developed at the University of Pennsylvania has shown promise in lowering HPV and harmful oral bacteria linked to head and neck cancers. In lab testing, one dose reduced HPV levels in saliva by up to 93% and mouthwash samples by up to 80% without significantly harming beneficial mouth bacteria.
Key Points
- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a bioengineered chewing gum aimed at reducing head and neck cancer risk.
- The gum lowered human papillomavirus levels by up to 93% in saliva samples and up to 80% in mouthwash samples during testing.
- It also reduced two cancer-linked bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, to nearly zero in laboratory tests.
- Scientists say the gum may be useful in the future as a preventive or adjunct therapy rather than a standalone cancer treatment.
