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Review
. 2024 Nov 28;25(1):12.
doi: 10.1007/s10238-024-01523-9.

The bacterial microbiome and cancer: development, diagnosis, treatment, and future directions

Hasnaa H Qasem  1 , Wael M El-Sayed  2
Affiliations
Review

The bacterial microbiome and cancer: development, diagnosis, treatment, and future directions

Hasnaa H Qasem et al. Clin Exp Med. .

Abstract

The term "microbiome" refers to the collection of bacterial species that reside in the human body's tissues. Sometimes, it is used to refer to all microbial entities (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and others) which colonize the human body. It is now generally acknowledged that the microbiome plays a critical role in the host's physiological processes and general well-being. Changes in the structure and/or function of the microbiome (dysbiosis) are linked to the development of many diseases including cancer. The claim that because of their negatively charged membrane, cancer cells are more vulnerable to some bacteria than normal cells and that is how the link between these bacteria and cancer evolved has been refuted. Furthermore, the relationship between the microbiome and cancer is more evident in the emerging field of cancer immunotherapy. In this narrative review, we detailed the correlation between the presence/absence of specific bacterial species and the development, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of some types of cancer including colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancer. In addition, we discussed the mechanisms of microbiome-cancer interactions including genotoxin production, the role of free radicals, modification of signaling pathways in host cells, immune modulation, and modulation of drug metabolism by microbiome. Future directions and clinical application of microbiome in the early detection, prognosis, and treatment of cancer emphasizing on the role of fecal transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome biomarkers were also considered.

Keywords: Dysbiosis; Fecal transplantation; Genotoxin; Immune modulation; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Prebiotics; Probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Fusobacterium nucleatum facilitates the metastasis of CRC via modulating the expression of FadA-Wnt/catenin signaling cascade and NF-κB/TLR4/MYD88 signaling pathway. Created with BioRender.com
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of CagA on the epithelial cell’s growth and development of gastric cancer by activating certain signaling pathways. Created with BioRender.com
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Undesirable side effects of the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan by intestinal bacteria. Created with BioRender.com
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effect of Enterococcus hirae and Barnesiella intestinihominis on inducing cyclophosphamide (CTX)-derived immune responses. Created with BioRender.com
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Fusobacterium nucleatum impedes the body's adaptive immune response mediated by anticancer T cells and hence is linked to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Created with BioRender.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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