Does Oral Microbiota Have a Close Relationship with Pancreatic Cancer? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The association between oral microbiota and pancreatic cancer (PC) is increasingly recognized and studied. Yet, contrasting results are seen in current studies. This study aimed to provide systematic review and meta-analysis comparing PC and oral microbiota.

Methods: Studies related to the association between oral microbiota and PC were identified through digital databases including PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and SCOPUS without limitations on language or publication period. The last identification date was 10 March 2023. Three case-control studies concerning the issue were included. For the meta-analyses, RevMan software version 5.4 was used. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate articles and measurement of study differences, and publication bias was shown.

Results: Porphyromonas gingivalis in oral bacteria was detected at a comparatively high detection rate in PC patients compared with healthy controls (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.74; P = 0.007; I = 34 %). The detection rate did not differ significantly between PC patients and healthy control patients for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (OR 0.98; 95 % CI 0.75-1.29; P = 0.90; I = 76 %); Tannerella forsythiaand (OR 1.12; 95 % CI 0.89-1.42; P = 0.33; I = 0 %), or Prevotella intermedia (OR 1.08; 95 % CI 0.84-1.39; P = 0.55; I = 0 %).

Conclusion: Oral microbiota were closely related to PC, whereas P. gingivalis was more commonly found in the PC patients than in the healthy controls. For patients with PC, P. gingivalis may play a role in early diagnosis.