Review Role of bacterial infections in pancreatic cancer

established risk factors for pancreatic cancer, including tobacco smoking, chronic pancreatitis, obesity and type 2 diabetes, col-lectively account for less than half of all pancreatic cancer cases. inflammation plays a key role in pancreatic carcinogenesis, but it is unclear what causes local inflammation, other than pancrea-titis. epidemiological data suggest that Helicobacter pylori may be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, and more recently, data suggest that periodontal disease, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen for periodontal disease, may also play a role in pan-creatic carcinogenesis. individuals with periodontal disease have elevated markers of systemic inflammation, and oral bacteria can disseminate into the blood, stomach, heart and even reach the brain. These infections may contribute to the progression of pan-creatic cancer by acting jointly with other pancreatic cancer risk factors that impact the inflammation and immune response, suc