Porphyromonas Gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in oral Oncogenesis and Tumour

Oncological pathology of the oral cavity is a subject of study due to its significant impact on the quality of life of patients, caregivers and on public health.According to the National Institute of Statistics, oncological disease is the second leading cause of death in Portugal, with oral and pharyngeal cancer having an incidence rate of 16.7% and a 50% mortality rate.Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent infectious conditions in the world, affecting 25-40% of the adult population.This pathology is often associated with the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, being a consequence of the complex interactions between these microorganisms and their products, triggering a host inflammatory response that leads to tissue destruction, increasingly associated with oral oncogenesis and tumor progression.This work goal is to study the involvement of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in oral oncogenesis and tumor progression to understand how these bacteria influence the pathophysiology of oral cavity cancer.The conducted systematic review used Cochrane guidelines through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) diagram and based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) criteria.Literature search covered four databases -B On, Science Direct, PubMed, Cochrane Library -and grey literature (master's theses, conference proceedings, world organizations).Publications between 2013 and 2023 were selected for full reading.Several mechanisms explain the association between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum and oral oncogenesis and tumor progression.These bacteria can promote cell proliferation by modulating various signaling pathways, and facilitate cellular invasion, allowing the dissemination of cancer cells.Another important mechanism is the induction of chronic inflammation.Prolonged inflammatory response creates a favorable environment for tumor progression.Pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) play key roles in the inflammatory process, promoting cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.Immune evasion is the mechanism by which cancer cells avoid detection and destruction by the immune system.These bacterial strains modulate host immune response, favoring survival and dissemination of cancer cells.This systematic review highlights the complex interaction between chronic inflammation induced by periodontal bacteria and oral oncogenesis.The results underline the need for future investigations to deepen the molecular mechanisms involved and to develop effective therapeutic approaches.Early identification and targeted treatment of chronic inflammation, as well as modulation of the oral microbiome, may be promising strategies to improve clinical outcomes for oral cancer patients, highlighting the importance of preventive measures in oral oncology.