The microbiome in endometrial cancer: vaginal milieu matters

Abstract

Endometrial cancer remains one of the most common malignancies in women, and its incidence is particularly increasing in developed countries. Despite the well-known promotive role of excessive exposure to estrogen, many other details of the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer remain unknown. Recent studies have elucidated the emerging role of the resident microbiota in the progression of various diseases, including cancer. Next-generation sequencing demonstrated that the uterine cavity, previously considered sterile, contains a composition-rich microbiota. In this work, we determined the differences in the composition of the intrauterine microbiota between patients with endometrial cancer and its precursor-endometrial hyperplasia.

Keywords: carcinogenesis; endometrial cancer; endometrial hyperplasia; endometrial microbiota; microbiota; vaginal microbiota.

Figure 1

Alpha-diversity of the uterine samples according to different metrics.

Figure 2

Beta-diversity of the uterine samples in 1:2 and 2:3 projections.

Figure 3

The taxonomic composition of uterine microbiota samples at the level of bacterial families.

Figure 4

Bacterial agents, that were enriched in EH group, according to LEfSe analysis.

Figure 5

Alpha-diversity of the vaginal samples according to different metrics.

Figure 6

Beta-diversity of the vaginal samples in 1:2 and 2:3 projections.

Figure 7

The taxonomic composition of vaginal microbiota samples at the level of bacterial families.

Figure 8

Comparison of bacterial agents, that were enriched in vagina in both groups.

Figure 9

Pairwise samples comparison using Bray-Curtis distance metric.