Periodontal Pathogens: A Crucial Link Between Periodontal Diseases and Oral Cancer
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Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Robust Ligature-Induced Model of Murine Periodontitis for the Evaluation of Oral Neutrophils
Published on: January 21, 2020
Tian-Jiao Li1, Yi-Hang Hao1, Ya-Ling Tang2
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
Emerging evidence shows a striking link between periodontal diseases and various human cancers including oral cancer. And periodontal pathogens, leading to periodontal diseases development, may serve a crucial role in oral cancer. This review elucidated the molecular mechanisms of periodontal pathogens in oral cancer. The pathogens directly engage in their own unique molecular dialogue with the host epithelium to acquire cancer phenotypes, and indirectly induce a proinflammatory environment and carcinogenic substance in favor of cancer development. And functional, rather than compositional, properties of oral microbial community correlated with cancer development are discussed. The effect of periodontal pathogens on periodontal diseases and oral cancer will further detail the pathogenesis of oral cancer and intensify the need of maintaining oral hygiene for the prevention of oral diseases including oral cancer.
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