The oral microbiome and breast cancer and non-malignant breast disease, and its relationship with the fecal microbiome in the Ghana Breast Health Study Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Traditionally linked to genetic predispositions and environmental exposures, emerging evidence highlights the microbiome as a critical and underappreciated factor influencing breast cancer progression, immune response, and treatment outcomes.
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Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
This study investigated the relationship between the oral microbiome, breast cancer, and non-malignant breast disease, as well as the correlation between the oral and fecal microbiomes in a case-control population in Ghana. Researchers analyzed microbiome samples from 881 women, including 369 breast cancer cases, 93 non-malignant cases, and 419 controls, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Who was studied?
The study population included Ghanaian women aged 18–74 years who were recruited from Accra and Kumasi. Participants comprised breast cancer patients, individuals with non-malignant breast disease, and population-based controls. Oral and fecal microbiome samples were collected, and demographic, lifestyle, and medical history data were recorded.
What are the Most important findings?
The study revealed that oral microbiome alpha-diversity was significantly lower in breast cancer and non-malignant breast disease cases compared to controls. For instance, each 10-unit increase in observed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) corresponded to a reduction in the odds of breast cancer and non-malignant breast disease by 14% and 21%, respectively. Beta-diversity analyses also showed distinct microbial community compositions between cases and controls. Key genera, including Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium, were inversely associated with breast cancer, with their relative abundances being significantly lower in cases than in controls. A notable finding was the strong inverse correlation between oral Porphyromonas and fecal Bacteroides in breast cancer cases. This relationship is particularly relevant as fecal Bacteroides has been implicated in estrogen metabolism and breast cancer risk. Breast cancer cases also exhibited stronger correlations between oral and fecal microbiomes compared to controls, suggesting a potential systemic interaction.
Shockingly, the study also found that breast cancer and non-malignant breast disease cases were more likely to have taken antibiotics within the last 30 days compared to controls. This raises critical questions about the role of antibiotics in microbiome disruption and their potential contribution to systemic microbial changes that could influence breast cancer risk.
What are the greatest implications?
This study is extraordinary in its scope and implications. It bridges the gap between two traditionally separate microbiomes—oral and fecal—and ties these microbial systems to breast cancer, a disease of immense global health importance. The findings reveal striking patterns: the inverse associations of oral microbiome diversity and specific genera, such as Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium, with breast cancer and non-malignant breast disease are compelling. These microbes, often linked to periodontal disease, emerge here as potential protective or systemic markers in a population with distinct environmental and health contexts.
The strong correlation between the oral and fecal microbiomes in breast cancer cases further underscores the interconnectedness of microbial communities and highlights systemic microbial interactions that remain underexplored in cancer research. The inverse relationship between Porphyromonas in the oral microbiome and Bacteroides in the fecal microbiome—key players in estrogen metabolism—provides intriguing clues about the mechanisms underlying breast cancer pathogenesis.