Type of mouth bacteria ‘melts’ some cancers, study finds

People with head and neck cancers are said to have better outcomes if fusobacterium is found with their cancer

Scientists have discovered that a common type of mouth bacteria can make certain cancers “melt”.

Researchers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London said they had been “brutally surprised” to find that fusobacterium – a type of bacteria commonly found in the mouth – appears to have the ability to kill certain cancers.