Unveiling the microbial orchestra: exploring the role of microbiota in cancer development and treatment

Abstract

The human microbiota comprises a diverse microbial ecosystem that significantly impacts health and disease. Among its components, the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic, immunologic, and inflammatory responses. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in microbial composition, has been linked to carcinogenesis through mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, metabolic disturbances, epigenetic modifications, and immune system dysregulation. Additionally, dysbiosis influences the efficacy and toxicity of cancer therapies. Given these associations, there is growing interest in leveraging the microbiota as a biomarker for cancer detection and outcome prediction. Notably, distinct microbial signatures have been identified across various cancer types, suggesting their potential as diagnostic markers. Furthermore, modulation of the microbiota presents a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment outcomes through strategies such as antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, dietary interventions, small-molecule inhibitors, and phage therapy. To explore these relationships, we conducted a comprehensive literature review using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar as our primary online databases, focusing on indexed peer-reviewed articles up to the present year. This review aims to elucidate the role of dysbiosis in cancer development, examine the molecular mechanisms involved, and assess the impact of microbiota on cancer therapies. Additionally, we highlight microbiota-based therapeutic strategies and discuss their potential applications in cancer management. A deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between the microbiota and cancer may pave the way for novel approaches to cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment optimization.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Dysbiosis; Immune modulation; Microbiota.

Fig. 1

Mechanisms of microbiota dysbiosis (created in BioRender.com). PRC2—Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, RNAPII—RNA Polymerase II, Me—Methyl group, SAM—S-Adenosylmethionine