The Influence of the Oral Microbiome on Oral Cancer: A Literature Review and a New Approach

Abstract

In our recent article (Smędra et al.: Oral form of auto-brewery syndrome. J Forensic Leg Med. 2022; 87: 102333), we showed that alcohol production can occur in the oral cavity (oral auto-brewery syndrome) due to a disruption in the microbiota (dysbiosis). An intermediate step on the path leading to the formation of alcohol is acetaldehyde. Typically, acetic aldehyde is transformed into acetate particles inside the human body via acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Unfortunately, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity is low in the oral cavity, and acetaldehyde remains there for a long time. Since acetaldehyde is a recognised risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma arising from the oral cavity, we decided to analyse the relationship linking the oral microbiome, alcohol, and oral cancer using the narrative review method, based on browsing articles in the PubMed database. In conclusion, enough evidence supports the speculation that oral alcohol metabolism must be assessed as an independent carcinogenic risk. We also hypothesise that dysbiosis and the production of acetaldehyde from non-alcoholic food and drinks should be treated as a new factor for the development of cancer.

Mechanisms and Potential Clinical Implications of Oral Microbiome in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Although pure ethanol is not carcinogenic, ACH leads to the formation of DNA protein adducts, causing point mutations and chromosomal aberrations by intervening in normal DNA replication. Smedra proposed a different point of view that ACH can originate from oral autobrewery syndrome owing to microbial dysbiosis in the oral cavity, aside from the breakdown of ingested alcohol by oral mucosal ADH, the oral microbiome, and alcoholic beverage itself [40].…”

An Overview of the Relevance of Human Gut and Skin Microbiome in Disease: The Influence on Atopic Dermatitis

“…This study aimed at obtaining a provisional taxonomic scheme; therefore, bacterial isolates came from studies targeting a wide range of individuals and oral health and disease statuses [33]. The genus Streptococcus is the most-predominant, followed by Prevotella, Veillonella, Neisseria, and Haemophilus [25,[34][35][36][37].…”