Bacteria in saliva could form basis for future test to help diagnose pancreatic cancer

It's the age of salivary diagnostics. Saliva plays an enormous, multifaceted role in the mouth, but one of the fastest growing discoveries for this precious fluid is its amazing ability to detect diseases in other parts of the body. Scientists have found that by examining saliva markers, they can determine various signs related to other diseases that might enable them to offer earlier treatments and tests. Today's news puts the spotlight on pancreatic cancer in light of saliva markers.

According to research presented today at the American Society for Microbiology, patients who have pancreatic cancer have a specific profile of distinct bacteria in their saliva, compared to healthy patients. Pancreatic cancer patients have higher levels of two oral bacteria, Leptotrichia and Campylobacter, and lower levels of Streptococcus, Treponema, and Veillonella.

These findings indicate that someday bacteria in saliva could be used to form the basis for a test to diagnose pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages. Isolating these bacteria may help further direct the course of research over the coming months.

Read more from ScienceDaily.

Read more from the American Society for Microbiology.

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