A recent research has revealed that fungus and bacteria can pose a risk of head and neck cancer. This study has been carried out on Candida albicans fungus and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
A group of researchers from São Paulo State University in Brazil conducted a detailed analysis of how this fungus, bacteria affected gene behavior and the survival of cancer cells in the body. It revealed how they activate cancer genes associated with head and neck.
The results of this research reveal completely new information on the association of microorganism biofilms and the behavior of cancer cells in the head, neck. Researchers discovered that metabolites secreted from biofilms (a collection of many microorganisms) may alter the behavior of proto-oncogenes and cell cycle genes associated with the growth and survival of cancer cells.
This analysis on gene behavior focuses on two signaling pathways – EGFR / RAS / RAF / MEK / ERK and EGFR / PI3K / AKT / mTOR. These pathways play an important role in the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of cancer cells. Changes in gene behavior in these pathways are prevalent in many types of cancer. Researchers analyzed squamous cells in the head, neck, and mouth. They stimulated these cells with metabolites derived from fungi and bacterial biofilms.
According to a research report published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infections Mycetrasebiology, metabolites of albicans fungus and aureus bacteria biofilms can threaten homeostasis (homeostasis) of normal and neoplastic oral epithelial cells. CDKN1A, BCL-2, PI3K, BRAF, HRAS and mTOR can alter the behavior of important genes. May also inhibit cell survival and cell cycle profile.
According to the researchers, understanding the cell cycle is important because cancer emphasizes uncontrolled cell division and growth. Cancer cells infiltrate tissues and organs throughout the body.
The study’s co-author and professor Paula Aboud Barbugli says that these results indicate that the molecules secreted by these microorganisms in biofilms can alter the activities of host cells even away from the primary synapse site.