Action Mechanisms of the Oral Microbiota in the Development of Cancer. Scoping Review

Consuelo S. López; Florencia P. Romero & Marcelo R. Sánchez

Summary

In this Scoping Review, we present the evidence recorded in the literature about that oral microbiota can generate a carcinogenic action, acting through three main mechanisms: on the extracellular space, activating intracellular signaling pathways and/or generating direct action on DNA, and that the principal pathogens studied are Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromona gingivalis. Nowadays, there is sufficient evidence about the association between oral microbiota and several types of cancer, however, there is not much knowledge about the mechanisms by which this microbiota participates in its development. We present a compilation of different mechanisms of action used by oral cavity bacteria in the process of carcinogenesis in four different types of cancer. It is of great importance to increase the knowledge about the etiological role of the oral microbiota in the development of cancer disease because it would be established as a new carcinogenic agent and its knowledge could be used as a valuable tool in the detection and treatment of this disease.

KEY WORDS: carcinogenic, oral cavity, microbiota.

How to cite this article

LÓPEZ, C. S.; ROMERO, F. P. & SÁNCHEZ, M. R. Action Mechanisms of the oral microbiota in the development of cancer. Scoping review. Int. J. Odontostomat., 16(4):532-539, 2022.