Periodontal disease and cancer: epidemiological studies and possible mechanisms of the relationship

At the beginning of the 21st century, the concept of "periodontal medicine" was formed, which considers the bidirectional relationship between periodontal pathology and systemic diseases of the body. We searched the PubMed and Scopus information databases for sources published before 01.11.2024, which considered the relationship between periodontal pathology and oncological diseases. In the current review, we focused on the general epidemiological aspects of cancer and periodontal diseases, and possible mechanisms for the identified relationship between periodontal diseases and oncological diseases. Most of the sources found relate to the last decade, which indicates the relevance of analyzing the relationship between periodontal diseases and oncological diseases. Epidemiological studies and cancer control studies devoted to the study of the relationship between periodontal diseases and cancer risk suggest a positive association with the overall risk of cancer and some specific types of cancer. Possible mechanisms linking periodontal disease and cancer suggest translocation of periodontal bacteria, primarily potential carcinogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, via the hematogenous route or the "mouth – gastrointestinal tract" axis, with subsequent development of chronic inflammation and immune system disorders. Further study of the relationship between periodontal disease and cancer opens up new perspectives in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oncological diseases.