30 Dec 2025 • Oropharyngeal colonization with Helicobacter pylori was associated with both increased risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and poorer post-diagnosis outcomes.

Key Findings:

• In an analysis of 220 high-risk individuals and 220 patients with HNSCC, H. pylori positivity was more frequent in cancer cases (43.6% vs 32.7%).
• Colonization independently raised HNSCC risk by 50% (HR 1.50), with stronger associations seen in patients harboring higher bacterial loads or virulent cagA- and vacA s1/m1–positive strains.
• Among patients with established HNSCC, H. pylori positivity tracked with higher recurrence (26.0% vs 16.9%), greater mortality (13.5% vs 8.1%), and significantly worse overall survival (HR 1.57).

The findings position oropharyngeal H. pylori as a potential contributor to both tumor initiation and progression, possibly through interactions with local immune responses and co-existing infections.

Source: Nature | Read full story