Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that bacteria commonly found in the mouth appears to ‘melt’ away and destroy certain cancers.

Results of the research are published in the journal ‘Cancer Communications’. The researchers were ‘surprised’ that patients with head and neck cancer who had Fusobacterium within their tumours had ‘much better outcomes’.

The exact biological mechanisms behind the link are being further investigated by specialists. Fusobacterium is a genus of obligate anaerobic, Gram-negative, non-sporeforming bacteria belonging to Gracilicutes.

Fusobacterium is a major cause of the well-known Lemierre’s Syndrome, a rare form of upper airways infection with a life threatening secondary septic thrombophlebitis of internal or external jugular veins, usually developed in previously healthy young adults.

In laboratory studies, the team at Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College London, put quantities of the bacteria in Petri dishes with cancer cells and left them for a couple of days.

They found there was a 70 to 99 per cent reduction in the number of viable head and neck cancer cells after being infected with Fusobacterium.

Further analysis of 155 patients with head and neck cancer showed those with the bacteria within their tumours had better survival odds compared to those who did not, with a 65 per cent reduction in risk of death.

Researchers hope the findings could help guide treatment for patients with head and neck cancer – which include cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, nose and sinuses.