Yonsei University researchers find saliva may detect cancer signs

Researchers have discovered that oral microbes may serve as early warning signs for stomach and colorectal cancers. A study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe suggests that saliva-based screening could eventually provide a less invasive alternative to traditional stool samples.

Led by Jihyun F. Kim from Yonsei University, the study analyzed 507 volunteers, including healthy individuals, those with metabolic disorders, and patients with stomach or colorectal cancer. By using gene sequencing, the team developed the ‘mouth-to-feces’ (MF) index to measure the similarity of microbial variants between the mouth and the digestive tract.

The analysis revealed distinct microbial signatures in participants with stomach and colorectal cancers. This finding indicates that patterns in oral microbial communities differ based on health status, potentially paving the way for simple oral rinse tests to detect gastrointestinal carcinomas.