Mechanistic Modeling of Periodontal Pathogen <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> -Induced Epithelial Oncogenic Transformation in Carcinomas via Selected FadA-Lactate-Angiogenesis Pathway

ABSTRACT Periodontal pathogens, commonly found in the normal oral flora, have been implicated in cancer progression, yet their metabolic influence remains underexplored. This study investigates the role of Fusobacterium nucleatum in tumorigenesis by modeling bacterial-induced inflammation and metabolic shifts. Using computational simulations, we analyze key enzymatic fluxes and their impact on cancer development. Our findings highlight significant lactate accumulation and subsequent VEGF upregulation, suggesting potential biomarkers for early detection and novel therapeutic targets.