biostudies-literatureGao SU.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNIDCR NIH HHSNational Science Foundation of China | National Natural Science Foundation of China-Yunnan Joint FundNIGMS NIH HHS433-444https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8329259biostudies-literatureUnknown125(3)<h4>Background</h4>The effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) infection on oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) prognosis, chemotherapeutic efficacy, and oesophageal cancer cell apoptosis resistance and proliferation remain poorly understood.<h4>Methods</h4>Clinicopathological data from 312 ESCC oesophagectomy patients, along with the computed tomography imaging results and longitudinal cancerous tissue samples from a patient subset (n = 85) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), were analysed. Comparison of overall survival and response rate to NACT between Pg-infected and Pg-uninfected patients was made by multivariate Cox analysis and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours v.1.1 criteria. The influence of Pg on cell proliferation and drug-induced apoptosis was examined in ESCC patients and validated in vitro and in vivo.<h4>Results</h4>The 5-year overall survival was lower in Pg-positive patients, and infection was associated with multiple clinicopathological factors and pathologic tumour, node, metastasis stage. Of the 85 patients who received NACT, Pg infection was associated with a lower response rate and 5-year overall survival. Infection with Pg resulted in apoptosis resistance in ESCC and promoted ESCC cell viability, which was confirmed in longitudinal cancerous tissue samples. Pg-induced apoptosis resistance was dependent on fimbriae and STAT3.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Pg infection is associated with a worse ESCC prognosis, reduced chemotherapy efficacy, and can potentiate the aggressive behaviour of ESCC cells.British journal of cancerPorphyromonas gingivalis infection exacerbates oesophageal cancer and promotes resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.PMC8329259R01 DE026727R01 DE026963DE 026Lamont727P20 GM125504GS 81472234DE 0Lamont26727DE 026727Liang SLiu KLi JGu ZWang HLamont RJMohammed MLiu YYakoumatos LLu LScott DARen JZhou FYuan XGao SDuan XfalsePorphyromonas gingivalis infection exacerbates oesophageal cancer and promotes resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.<h4>Background</h4>The effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) infection on oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) prognosis, chemotherapeutic efficacy, and oesophageal cancer cell apoptosis resistance and proliferation remain poorly understood.<h4>Methods</h4>Clinicopathological data from 312 ESCC oesophagectomy patients, along with the computed tomography imaging results and longitudinal cancerous tissue samples from a patient subset (n = 85) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), were analysed. Comparison of overall survival and response rate to NACT between Pg-infected and Pg-uninfected patients was made by multivariate Cox analysis and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours v.1.1 criteria. The influence of Pg on cell proliferation and drug-induced apoptosis was examined in ESCC patients and validated in vitro and in vivo.<h4>Results</h4>The 5-year overall survival was lower in Pg-positive patients, and infection was associated with multiple clinicopathological factors and pathologic tumour, node, metastasis stage. Of the 85 patients who received NACT, Pg infection was associated with a lower response rate and 5-year overall survival. Infection with Pg resulted in apoptosis resistance in ESCC and promoted ESCC cell viability, which was confirmed in longitudinal cancerous tissue samples. Pg-induced apoptosis resistance was dependent on fimbriae and STAT3.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Pg infection is associated with a worse ESCC prognosis, reduced chemotherapy efficacy, and can potentiate the aggressive behaviour of ESCC cells.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Aug2025-04-05T10:04:06.629Z2025-04-05T10:04:06.629ZS-EPMC83292593398101710.1038/s41416-021-01419-5