Scientists have developed a chewing gum against cancer

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an experimental chewing gum whose components can target the human papillomavirus (HPV) and certain bacteria found in the oral cavity. In laboratory tests, the formulation bound up to 93% of viral particles in saliva samples from patients with head and neck cancers. The results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

As reported by BAKU.WS, scientists investigated the possibility of delivering special proteins directly into the oral cavity to target pathogenic microorganisms. The research is relevant because the prolonged presence of HPV in the body can contribute to the development of certain types of cancer. In addition, the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum are associated with a less favorable course of head and neck tumors.

The antiviral chewing gum was based on lablab beans, which contain the protein FRIL. It is capable of recognizing viral particles, binding to them, and aggregating them into larger structures. In laboratory experiments, this mechanism bound 93% of detected HPV in saliva samples. In mouthwash samples, the figure was 80%.

In the next phase, the researchers supplemented the formulation with protegrin-1, a peptide with antimicrobial properties. After a single treatment, the number of the two bacterial species studied was reduced by more than 99%.

At the same time, the formulation's action did not affect certain other microorganisms: in particular, the studied streptococci were preserved in the samples. This may indicate that the development is capable of selectively targeting specific types of bacteria.

The authors of the study believe that the results obtained warrant further investigation of the technology. In particular, clinical trials need to be conducted to determine how safe and effective such chewing gum is for humans and whether it could become an additional tool for controlling infections in the oral cavity.

So far, the results have been confirmed only through laboratory experiments. The potential for using the development in the prevention or treatment of HPV and related cancers has yet to be verified.