ساخت اکانت کاربری رایگان

مقالات پذیرفته شده کنگره

  • صفحه نخست
  • مقالات پذیرفته شده اولین کنگره بین المللی ژنتیک سرطان
بازنشر

  • The cancer–microbiome axis: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies

  • parvin mohamadshafiei,1,* Maryam Tahmasbi,2
    1. Department of Biology, faculty of science shahid chamran university of Ahvaz, Iran
    2. Department of Biology, faculty of science shahid chamran university of Ahvaz, Iran


  • Introduction: The paradigm of oncology has undergone a fundamental shift, transitioning from a cell-centric view to a complex ecosystem-based perspective, where the "cancer–microbiome axis" stands at the forefront of this evolution. Traditionally, tumorigenesis was viewed primarily through the lens of somatic mutations and genetic instability. However, emerging evidence underscores that the commensal microbiota plays a decisive role in modulating the host's physiological landscape, influencing everything from immune surveillance to metabolic homeostasis. The bidirectional communication between neoplastic cells and microbial communities creates a unique microenvironmental niche that can either promote tumor suppression or drive oncogenic progression.This axis operates through a multifaceted array of mechanisms, including the production of microbial metabolites—such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and secondary metabolites—which act as signaling molecules via G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). These metabolites can induce epigenetic modifications, alter inflammatory signaling pathways (notably through the NF-κB and TLR pathways), and dictate the recruitment and activation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Consequently, dysbiosis—the loss of microbial diversity and the expansion of pathobionts—is increasingly recognized as a critical driver of the pro-tumorigenic inflammatory milieu. Understanding these intricate molecular dialogues is essential for deconstructing the role of the microbiome in cancer etiology and for harnessing it as a frontier for next-generation therapeutic interventions.
  • Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted via PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2026. The search employed Boolean operators combining terms such as "cancer–microbiome axis," "dysbiosis," "metabolites," and "therapeutic strategies." Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed research providing mechanistic insights into microbial-tumor interactions and translational therapeutic applications. Studies were excluded if they lacked clinical relevance or were non-peer-reviewed. Data were qualitatively synthesized into three thematic pillars: molecular signaling mechanisms, microbial metabolite influence, and emerging microbiome-based interventions, ensuring a rigorous overview of the current oncological landscape.
  • Results: The synthesis of current literature reveals that the cancer–microbiome axis is driven by three critical factors. First, microbial dysbiosis triggers chronic inflammation via the activation of TLR and NF-κB pathways, fostering a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. Second, microbial metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids, act as potent signaling molecules that modulate epigenetic landscapes and immune cell infiltration. Third, therapeutic modulation of this axis—through probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—shows significant potential in enhancing immunotherapy efficacy and reshaping the tumor microenvironment to suppress malignancy.
  • Conclusion: The evidence synthesized in this review underscores a fundamental paradigm shift: the microbiome is not merely a passenger in the host, but a central architect of the oncogenic landscape. The transition from homeostasis to dysbiosis represents a critical tipping point in carcinogenesis; this disruption facilitates a persistent inflammatory state that serves as a continuous stimulus for neoplastic transformation.The mechanistic core of this axis lies in the biochemical dialogue mediated by microbial metabolites. These molecules, particularly short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids, act as potent signaling agents that modulate epigenetic landscapes and immune cell infiltration. This metabolic-immunological crosstalk suggests that the microbiome essentially "tunes" the host's anti-tumor immune response, a layer of complexity often overlooked in traditional genetic models.Looking forward, the clinical translation of these findings offers transformative potential for precision oncology. Manipulating the microbiome via targeted interventions like FMT or engineered probiotics represents a new frontier in cancer immunotherapy. However, significant challenges remain, including high inter-individual variability and the need to establish definitive causality. Future research must prioritize identifying microbial biomarkers to enable early detection and standardized, microbiome-directed adjuvant therapies.
  • Keywords: Cancer–microbiome axis, Dysbiosis, Microbial metabolites

به خانواده بزرگ کنسر ژنتیکس و ژنومیکس سرطان بپیوندید!

ایجاد حساب کاربری رایگان