Researchers develop chewing gum that targets HPV and microbes linked to head and neck cancer

Chewing gum that targets cancer-linked oral bacteria: A bioengineered chewing gum developed by researchers has shown promising results against microbes associated with head and neck cancer, reducing human papillomavirus (HPV) levels by up to 93% and bringing two harmful bacterial species down to almost zero in laboratory tests involving oral samples from patients, as per a report.

The findings, published in Scientific Reports, come from a study led by Henry Daniell of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine. The findings of the research could support the development of more accessible and affordable treatments.

Gum targets virus and bacteria linked to head and neck cancer

The research focused on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a common cancer that develops in the tissues lining the mouth and throat, as per a ScienceDaily report. The disease can be particularly aggressive, and outcomes are often poor when it is discovered at a later stage.


The study builds on earlier research involving chewing gum made from lablab beans, also known as bean gum. The gum contains FRIL, a naturally occurring antiviral protein.

Researchers tested oral samples from patients with HNSCC, focusing on three microbes associated with the disease: HPV and the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn).

Daniell said, "The global increase in oropharyngeal cancer is linked to HPV infection. And Pg and Fn infections worsen survival rates of untreated recurrent or metastatic oral cancer, even after surgery and risk-adjusted adjuvant, or supplemental, therapies," as quoted by ScienceDaily.

One dose nearly eliminated harmful bacteria

Laboratory tests showed that extracts from the bean gum reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples and by 80% in oral rinse samples.

The researchers also engineered the gum to contain protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide capable of killing harmful bacteria. A single dose reduced levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum to almost zero.

The treatment did not appear to harm the beneficial bacteria that normally live in the mouth. The researchers noted that radiation therapy can have a different effect, reducing beneficial bacteria while encouraging the growth of disease-causing yeast (Candida albicans).

Researchers see potential alongside existing therapies

According to the researchers, preserving the healthy oral microbiome while targeting harmful microbes could make the chewing gum useful as an additional therapy alongside current cancer treatments or as a preventive measure against infection and transmission.

Daniell pointed out that many recently approved cancer medications have not produced major improvements in patients' quality of life or five-year survival, highlighting the need for new treatment approaches.

He said, "Lip and oral cavity cancer was the seventh leading cancer type in cancer incidence and mortality rate worldwide in adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults in 2022," adding, "Our findings support the value of advancing these therapies to clinical trials as adjuvants with current treatments or as prophylaxis to prevent infection and transmission," as quoted by ScienceDaily.

The study included researchers from Penn Dental Medicine, the University of Kansas Medical Center, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The research received support from the National Institutes of Health, the Academic Senate Grant of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center.