Researchers have developed a chewing gum containing proteins that target HPV and bacteria associated with head and neck cancer, potentially offering a new, accessible treatment option.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that targets microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In laboratory tests using patient oral samples, the gum demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce levels of human papillomavirus (HPV) and two specific bacterial species linked to the disease. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, suggest the gum could eventually serve as an affordable adjuvant therapy or preventive measure.

Targeting Cancer-Linked Microbes

The research team, led by Henry Daniell, focused on three microbes known to complicate HNSCC: HPV, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn). HPV is linked to the global rise in oropharyngeal cancer, while Pg and Fn are associated with worsened survival rates in patients with recurrent or metastatic oral cancer. The study utilized chewing gum derived from lablab beans, which naturally contains the antiviral protein FRIL, and engineered it to include protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide.

Test Results and Microbiome Preservation

Laboratory tests showed that extracts from the bean gum reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples and by 80% in oral rinse samples. When the gum was engineered with protegrin, a single dose reduced levels of the bacteria Pg and Fn to near-zero. Notably, the treatment appeared to spare beneficial oral bacteria, contrasting with radiation therapy, which can reduce helpful microbes and promote the growth of harmful yeast like Candida albicans.

Future Clinical Potential

Researchers aim to advance these findings into clinical trials to determine the gum's efficacy as an adjuvant to current cancer treatments or as a prophylactic to prevent infection and transmission. According to Daniell, lip and oral cavity cancer ranked as the seventh leading cancer type for incidence and mortality worldwide among adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults in 2022. The team believes this approach could address the need for more accessible and effective treatments for HNSCC.