Harnessing the oral-systemic axis: A novel frontier in cancer management

The human body harbors numerous microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and bacteriophages, which are primarily found in the oral cavity and are considered the largest microbiological reservoir. The oral microbiota has a profound influence on the human body and health. An imbalance between the bacteria and their hosts may cause local oral and dental difficulties. The recent research has indeed underscored the significant role of oral microbial dysbiosis in the development of various systemic and long-term diseases, potentially culminating in cancer by triggering oncogenic processes in the body. The analogy of activated pathways depends on the involvement of a specific subset of microbial species or consortia within the oral cavity. This review explains the pivotal role of oral microbial dysbiosis in cancer pathogenesis. It also specifies the role of specific oral pathogens and associated mechanisms through which dysbiotic oral microbiota contribute to oncogenic processes. As a rational and innovative approach, the review features various phytotherapeutics that are found to be active against pathogenic oral microbes and also show activity against systemic cancers. This review aims to emphasize the oral-systemic axis by highlighting phytotherapies known for their cancer management properties, which have shown activity against oral microbes and are linked to the pathogenesis of the respective cancer.