Comorbidity of periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal cancer

At the beginning of the 21st century, the concept of "periodontal medicine" was formed, considering the relationship between periodontal pathology and systemic diseases of the body. Currently, more than 50 systemic inflammatory diseases and concomitant diseases are associated with periodontal pathology. We searched the Pubmed and Scopus information databases for sources published before November 1, 2024, which considered the relationship between periodontal pathology and gastrointestinal cancer. In the current review, we focused on the epidemiological aspects of the relationship between periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal cancer, as well as possible mechanisms for the identified relationship between periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal cancer. Most of the sources found relate to the last decade, which indicates the relevance of analyzing the relationship between periodontal diseases and cancer. Epidemiological studies suggest a positive relationship with the overall risk of cancer and specific types of gastrointestinal cancer. Possible mechanisms of the relationship between periodontal diseases and cancer suggest the translocation of periodontal bacteria, primarily potential carcinogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, by the hematogenous route or along the "mouth–intestinal"/"mouth–gastrointestinal" axis with subsequent development of chronic inflammation and immune disorders. Further study of the relationship between periodontal diseases and cancer opens up new prospects in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.