Periodontitis as a risk factor for head and neck cancer / Periodontitis como factor de riesgo de cáncer de cabeza y cuello

ABSTRACT

Background: Periodontitis may be associated with the development of head and neck cancer (HNC). A literaturereview was conducted to understand the possible association between them.Material and Methods: Articles published in the PubMed database from January 1999 and May 2020 were re-trieved. Limitations of the studies and biological mechanisms were discussed.Results: A total of 4,232 articles were found. Of these, 13 were analyzed according to inclusion criteria. Most pa-pers found some association between periodontitis and HNC, although differences in periodontal evaluation, sam-ple size, study design and tumor sites were observed. Porphyromonas gingivalis appears to increase the chanceof both diseases, and it may be one of their main potential risk factors. Genetic predisposition is increased byexposure to environmental factors which can directly induce epigenetic changes that contribute to these diseases.Conclusions: Understanding the mechanisms related to periodontitis and HNC has increased, however, well-de-signed clinical studies are needed for better conclusions. Furthermore, the advent of multiple "omic" technologieswill help comprehend their possible association.(AU)