The role and significance of the oncobiota in selected cancers: a review

Abstract

This review provides an overview of research evidence focused on the microbial components essential to clinical cancer care, called the oncobiota (the interaction of human microbiota and cancer cells). It specifically examines the oncobiota in central nervous system cancer,breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer. The literature review reveals insufficient knowledge about the oncobiota of organs once considered sterile. Many studies on oncobiota focus on small, geographically specific patient groups, and the absence of a reference (control) group complicates the development of microbial profiles for selected cancers. Consequently, this review aims to analyze the literature data and reports on the role of oncobiota in selected "sterile" organs and the resulting therapeutic or preventive implications. All relevant publications on oncobiota in patients with the selected cancers were considered to provide the most thorough analysis possible. Understanding the significance and role of oncobiota in the pathomechanisms of carcinogenesis may pave the way for targeted cancer prevention methods. Furthermore, therapeutic strategies based on oncobiota could represent a novel area of ​​personalized cancer treatment. Additionally, oncobiota may serve as an additional diagnostic tool in oncology.

Keywords: Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Human microbiota; Oncobiome; Oncobiota.

Fig. 1

Breast cancer oncobiota

Fig. 2

Pancreatic cancer oncobiota

Fig. 3

Liver cancer oncobiota

Fig. 4

Lung cancer oncobiota

Fig. 5

Ovarian cancer oncobiota