Vaginal and tumor microbiomes in gynecological cancer (Review)

Abstract

Cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancer are the three most common types of gynecologic cancer. As a hub, the vagina connects the site of gynecological cancer with the external environment. Lactobacilli participate in the formation of a healthy vaginal microenvironment as the first line of defense against pathogen invasion; a dysbiotic vaginal microenvironment loses its original protective function and is associated with the onset, metastasis, poor efficacy and poor prognosis of gynecological cancer. The early diagnosis of cancer is the key to improve the survival time of patients with cancer. The screening of Porphyromonas, Sneathia and Atopobium vaginae, and other microbial markers, can assist the diagnosis of gynecological cancer, and screen out the high-risk population as early as possible. With the in-depth study of the microbes in tumor tissues, reasearchers have analyzed the immunological associations of microorganisms in tumor tissues. Due to the structural-functional interconnection between the organ of gynecological tumorigenesis and the vagina, the present study aims to review the relationship between vaginal and tumor microorganisms and gynecological cancer in terms of occurrence, screening, treatment and prognosis.

Keywords: cervical cancer; endometrial cancer; lactobacilli; ovarian cancer; tumor microbiome; vaginal microbe.

Figure 1.

Microbial dysbiosis and gynecological cancer. The homeostasis of microbes in the vagina and reproductive organs has no harmful effect on the host. With the decrease in the dominance of Lactobacillus and the increase in pathogenic bacteria and virus invasion, the dysbiotic microbes in the vagina, cervix, uterus and ovary are associated with the immune inhibition, carcinogenesis and increased drug resistance of the host.