Intratumoural Microbiota: Roles in Cancer Development, Prognosis, and Therapy
Intratumoral Microbiota: Emerging Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Oncology
-
Maryam Abbaspour
,
Marveh Rahmati
,
Mahdi Aghili
,
Mahdiheh Salehi
,
Saman Asadi
,
Yasaman Saburi
,
Saba Zeighami
,
Zahara Allahyar
,
Saeid Amanpour
Abstract
Breakthroughs in sequencing technologies have overturned the notion that tumor tissues are sterile, revealing that a wide array of bacteria, fungi, and viruses—collectively known as the intratumoral microbiota—inhabit tumors across diverse cancer types. These microorganisms, which can colonize tumors via mucosal barrier disruption, adjacent tissue spread, or hematogenous routes, have emerged as critical modulators of the tumor microenvironment. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that intratumoural microbiota influence cancer biology by inducing genomic instability, altering epigenetic landscapes, promoting chronic inflammation, evading immune surveillance, and reshaping tumor metabolism. The diversity and composition of these microbial communities vary by tumor type and stage, with distinct microbial signatures linked to patient prognosis and therapeutic response. As research progresses, the intratumoural microbiota are being recognized not only as biomarkers for early cancer detection and prognosis but also as promising targets for innovative therapies, particularly in the context of immunotherapy. While challenges remain in elucidating the origins, functions, and safe manipulation of these microbes, ongoing advances hold the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment through microbiota-targeted strategies. This review summarizes the characteristics and origins of intratumoural microbiota, their prognostic significance, and their emerging applications in cancer therapy.Knight R, Vrbanac A, Taylor BC, Aksenov A, Callewaert C, Debelius J, et al. Best practices for analysing microbiomes. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2018;16(7):410-22.
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| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 16 No 4 (2024) | |
| Section | Reviews | |
| Keywords | ||
| Intratumoral microbiota Tumor microenvironment Cancer progression Microbial biomarkers Immunotherapy Microbiome-based therapy | ||
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