A simple saliva test could help detect stomach cancer early, avoiding invasive procedures and increasing the chances of survival, a promising new study suggests.
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is often linked to bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, but until now it has not been clear which other microorganisms may contribute to its development and how they spread in the stomach.
Thousands of new cases are diagnosed each year and many patients lose their lives, mainly because the disease is detected late due to vague symptoms.
Researchers from China have identified about 20 types of bacteria that are regularly found in the stomachs of patients with this disease. According to them, these bacteria can cause increased acidity in the stomach and promote cancerous changes.
A key discovery is that most of these bacteria originate in the mouth and then move to the stomach.
Based on this, scientists suggest that in the future a simple saliva test could be used to detect the presence of these bacteria in the early stages of the disease, when treatment is most effective.
Experts believe that this study strengthens the idea that there is an important connection between the oral and intestinal microbiomes in the development of stomach cancer, and that non-invasive tests such as saliva or stool analysis may become important diagnostic tools in the future.
Currently, stomach cancer is usually diagnosed through endoscopy, a procedure where a camera is inserted into the stomach to look for suspicious changes.
In this study, scientists analyzed over 400 saliva and stool samples from stomach cancer patients and identified 23 types of bacteria in the stomach, 20 of which were also found in the mouth.
According to them, the initial infection with Helicobacter pylori can damage the stomach's defenses, allowing other bacteria to settle and cause persistent infections that over time lead to cancer.
The study suggests that a broad screening program with saliva tests could identify early cases of cancer with high accuracy.
However, experts warn that further research is needed before this method can be widely used in practice.
Symptoms of stomach cancer include loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, persistent indigestion, and unexplained fatigue. These signs are often overlooked, leading to the diagnosis being made at an advanced stage.
In the late stages, the chances of survival are low, which makes early detection of the disease even more important. /GazetaExpress/
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