The influence of periodontal disease and periodontal treatment on colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background. Periodontal disease (PD) is associated with more than 50 diseases and conditions, including colorectal cancer. The study examined whether treating periodontal disease before cancer therapy affects blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and aimed to isolate the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis from the cancer-altered intestinal mucosa. These bacteria are commonly linked to colorectal cancer (CRC).

Patients and methods. To assess the effect of periodontal treatment on colorectal cancer, we measured the CRP levels in the blood during cancer therapy on the day of the initial examination by the oncological surgeon, two days following surgery, and at the first follow-up appointment. We compare the CRP levels between two groups, the group of subjects who underwent periodontal treatment and the patients who did not receive periodontal disease treatment. An attempt was made to isolate the periodontal pathogenic bacteria from the mucosa of the cancerous tissue in the colon by using quantitative culture.

 Results. Using the t-test for independent samples, we found no statistically significant difference between the groups in the initial CRP measurements before starting cancer treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the CRP measurements taken 1st and 2nd day after surgery and at the follow-up appointment. Using the quantitative culture method we were unable to isolate periodontal pathogenic bacteria from cancer-altered intestine mucosa.

 Conclusions. Our study did not demonstrate the impact of periodontal disease and its treatment on colorectal cancer.