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According to a new study, periodontitis may be associated with a higher risk for pancreatic cancer. The study was conducted by a team from Brown University. More details appeared in the online edition of the Gut journal on Sept. 18.

The study team found that patients with higher levels of antibodies to the pathogenic bacteria causing periodontitis were at twice the risk for developing pancreatic cancer. On the other hand, higher levels of other harmless oral bacteria decreased the risk for developing the disease.

The study included the measurement of the levels of antibodies for 25 pathogenic and harmless bacterial types in blood samples. These samples were collected from 405 patients suffering pancreatic cancer and from 416 other subjects, who were acting as the control group.

The team noted that patients with higher antibody levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the anaerobic bacteria causing periodontitis, had a doubling of the risk for developing cancer in the pancreas when compared to other patients.

The study also indicated that higher levels of antibodies for certain harmless oral bacteria reduced the risk for developing the disease by almost 45%. The team suggests that individuals with higher and more active immune responses are more protected against pancreatic cancer.

The study team says that their study is the first to address the link between periodontitis-causing bacteria and pancreatic cancer. It is also represents the first research to discuss the relationship between the immune response, against harmless bacteria, and the risk for pancreatic cancer.

Jacques Izard, from the Forsyth Institute in Cambridge, Mass., which played a part in the study, said "The impact of immune defense against both commensal and pathogenic bacteria undeniably plays a role," adding "We need to further investigate the importance of bacteria in pancreatic cancer beyond the associated risk,"

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal forms of cancer. It is hard to be diagnosed and causes death within 6 months after being detected. Pancreatic cancer results in more than 40,000 mortalities in the US every year.