Translocation of Oral Microbiota into the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Microenvironment

Oral dysbiosis has long been associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this work, we explore the relationship between the oral and tumor microbiomes of patients diagnosed with PDAC. Salivary and tumor microbiomes were analyzed using a variety of sequencing methods, resulting in a high prevalence and relative abundance of oral bacteria, particularly Veillonella and Streptococcus, within tumor tissue. The most prevalent and abundant taxon found within both saliva and tumor tissue samples, Veillonella atypica, was cultured from patient saliva, sequenced and annotated, identifying genes that potentially contribute to tumorigenesis. High sequence similarity was observed between sequences recovered from patient matched saliva and tumor tissue, indicating that the taxa found in PDAC tumors may derive from the mouth. These findings may have clinical implications in the care and treatment of patients diagnosed with PDAC.

Automated summary

This study explores the relationship between the oral and tumor microbiomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It reveals a high prevalence and relative abundance of oral bacteria, particularly Veillonella and Streptococcus, in tumor tissue. The most prevalent and abundant taxon, Veillonella atypica, was cultured from patient saliva, sequenced and annotated, identifying genes that may contribute to tumorigenesis. The sequence similarity between patient matched saliva and tumor tissue suggests that the microbiota in PDAC tumors may originate from the mouth. These findings may have clinical implications for the care and treatment of PDAC patients.